Origin of the conflict
The Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic was one of those republics in the Soviet Union that suddenly found itself in a hastened development towards independence in the late eighties and early nineties. In the wake of Michail Gorbachevs politics of Glasnost and Perestroika, feelings of Moldovan nationalism and developments towards democratisation became more and more public. Not in every part of the country this was seen favourably. In the part of Moldova east of the Nistru/Dniester river, where a majority of the population was of Russian and Ukrainian ethnic background, the rise of Moldovan (language) nationalism and the possibility of a union with Romania were a source of fear. This mainly Russian speaking part of the Soviet Republic had been added to the region by the Soviet Union after 1945. The eastern bank of the Dniester first reacted to this perceived threat by a campaign of strikes. After further deterioration of the conflict however, it declared its independence on the 16th of August 1990, well before Moldova would eventually declare its independence of the Soviet Union on the 27th of August 1991. The independence of Moldova was fairly quickly recognized by the international community, whereas Transnistria (or Trans-Dniester) remains a part of Moldova in international eyes up to this day.
Favourable to the situation of Transnistria as a break-away republic was the stationing of the Soviet 14th army headquarters and troops on its territory. These troops even provided some help in the clashes with the Moldovan police in the winter of 1991-1992.[1] The taking over of Moldovan institutions by the Transnistrian forces led to a military conflict in spring 1992 in which, according to foreign estimates, circa 700 people died.[2] Negotiations between Russia and Moldova led to a cease-fire agreement on 21 July 1992. A peacekeeping force was meant to keep the peace in the ‘border-area’. It remains until today, now consisting of almost equal proportions of Russians, Moldovans and Transnistrians. Periodic negotiations also continue until today.

Actors involved
Since 1995 Russia, Ukraine and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCSE) have acted as peace mediator. The US and the EU have also joined the process since 2005. Despite some chances of success, for example in the negotiations of 2001, the talks have every time broken down on Transnistrias insistence on full sovereignty. Another important issue in the talks between Russia and Moldova remains the presence of the troops of the 14th army, which have been withdrawn from Moldovan territory since 1993 but still remain in place in Transnistria. Russia promised to withdraw fully by 2002 during the Istanbul talks of 1999. It however delayed the process, and eventually Russia changed its mind about complete withdrawal before the conflict has been solved.[3] In 2008 NATO reminded Russia to these promises.[4] Since the very beginning, Igor Smirnov is the president of Transnistria. In 1990 Smirnov became chairman of the city soviet of the later capital of Transnistria, Tiraspol. After the declaration of independence he became chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, and was elected president of the republic in 1991. He has been re-elected in three elections since and keeps on fighting for international recognition of Transnistria. The populations wish for independence was established in referenda in 1991 and 2006, with high percentages wanting independence. But these referenda were not recognized internationally. On the other hand, there are Moldovan opposition organisations among the Transnistrian population (of which 40 percent speaks Moldovan).[5]

The international community
The international community refuses to recognize the independence of Transnistria or any of its referenda or elections. Several countries are however involved in the negotiations towards a solution. The EU, now neighbouring Moldova, has taken a greater interest in solving the problem the last few years. The EU and the US imposed a travel ban on the leadership of Transnistria for presumed lack of cooperation.[6] Russia plays a sometimes ambivalent role in trying to break Moldova away from the negotiations with multiple partners and organizing sessions with Russia alone.[7]

Current situation
The Transnistrian conflict has been relatively quiet and peaceful since the early nineties. Although no direct solution seems to be in sight, one cannot speak about an active conflict anymore. There has not been any military involvement since 1992.[8] Mediators as the OCSE try to do more than only peacekeeping and calling the parties again and again to negotiations. The OCSE for example in 2006-2007 supported a “Music for peace” festival on the banks of the normally so dividing river, with bands from both sides. The festival functioned as a rally-point of hope in Moldova: “We think that this place has symbolic meaning. Today the Nistru is no longer a line of separation, but rather an element of connection," one of the organisers even remarked.[9]

[1] Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Smirnov#cite_note-9, 5 July 2009, see note number 10.
[2] University of Uppsala, http://www.pcr.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=108®ionSelect=9-Eastern_Europe#, 5 July 2009.
[3] UNHCR, http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,,,MDA,4562d8b62,487ca26623,0.html, 7 July 2009.
[4] NATO, http://www.nato-pa.int/Default.asp?SHORTCUT=1652, 5 July 2009.
[5] BBC, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/3641826.stm, 4 July 2009. Electiral Geography, http://www.electoralgeography.com/en/countries/t/transnistria/2006-independence-referendum-transnistria.html, 6 July 2009.
[6] European Parliament, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2007-4310+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN, 6 July 2009.
[7] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, http://www.rferl.org/content/Backroom_Deals_Cant_Solve_Transdniester_Dispute/1513681.html, 7 July 2009. UNHCR, http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,,,MDA,4562d8b62,487ca26623,0.html, 7 July 2009.
[8] University of Uppsala, http://www.pcr.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=108®ionSelect=9-Eastern_Europe#, 7 July 2009.
[9] OSCE, http://www.osce.org/moldova/item_2_25948.html, 7 July 2009.