ODESSA, Ukraine -- Moldova and Transdnestr separatists signed a troop-reduction accord Friday aimed at building confidence between the two sides, who fought a brief but bloody war six years ago.
The accord, mediated by Russia and Moldova's giant neighbor Ukraine, provides for a reduction of 500 troops by both sides in the security zone established following the cessation of hostilities in 1992, when Moldova lost control of the ribbon of territory, which snakes down the left bank of the Dnestr River.
The force currently comprises 2,000 Moldovan troops, 2,000 rebels and 500 Russians. Under the agreement, Ukrainian military observers will be sent into the security zone.
Friday's accord was signed in Odessa by Moldovan President Petru Luchinski, the head of the self-proclaimed Republic of Transdnestr Igor Smirnov, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin.
"This document considerably advances the resolution of the Transdnestr conflict, but further steps forward are needed to ensure a resolution of the conflict," Chernomyrdin said.
This view was emphasized ahead of parliamentary elections to be held Sunday, when Transdnestr will underline its independence by refusing to participate.
"There will be no election here, no polling stations," Dnestr's vice president, Alexander Karaman, said Friday. "Those who live here who want to take part in the elections can go and vote in Moldova -- we won't stand in their way."
Ethnic Russians and Ukrainians fought clashes with Romanian-speaking Moldovan nationalists in 1992, fearing the latter's drive to unite the republic with neighboring Romania.
Despite a ban on election campaigning in the territory, some Moldovan party activists have crossed the river and pasted a election posters on lamp posts.
Special polling stations will open on Sunday on the right bank of the Dnestr for any of the territory's 700,000 inhabitants who want to vote.
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