Boutros-Ghali avoided naming any specific conflict, but made it clear he was directing his comments at former Soviet republics.
"We are faced with a variety of ethnic and national groups, each seeking to be recognized, each knocking at the door of statehood and full independence," he said.
The "trials of ethnic strife and separatist movements" soon marred the "joy of independence," he said.
Boutros-Ghali was in Moldova after visiting other former Soviet republics.
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