TIRASPOL. April 16 (Interfax) - The Supreme Council of the breakaway Moldovan Republic of Transdniestria on Wednesday wrote an appeal to the Russian President, State Duma and Federation Council, as well as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), asking them to recognize the republic's independence.
In their appeal, Transdniestrian lawmakers recalled the results of the September 17, 2006 referendum, in which over 97% residents of the republic favored its independence and subsequent becoming part of Russia.
"By expressing its will through one of the basic institutes of direct democracy - the plebiscite, and by voting for the independence of Transdniestria and its subsequent becoming part of Russia, the Transdniestrian people exercised its integral right to determine its political status freely and without interference, to develop economically, socially and culturally. Under the generally acknowledged norms of international law, a people's right to self-determination must serve as basis for political decisions, and each state must respect this right," the statement said.