So is Transdniestria (see article), whose pig-headed authorities refuse to acknowledge the problem.

ECONOMIST: A hub of the modern slave trade

Instead of rising to the level of Europe, Moldova risks being dragged down to the level of Transdniestria.

ECONOMIST: A glimpse inside Transdniestria

Moldova and Azerbaijan, for example, have headaches with similar entities, Transdniestria and Nagorno-Karabakh.

ECONOMIST: Russia and the West

Even Moldova's territorial dispute, involving its Slav minority in Transdniestria (see article), scarcely sparks the imagination of foreign mediators.

ECONOMIST: Moldova

After some hiccups, his bid for reconciliation with Transdniestria and its veteran strongman, Igor Smirnov, seems to be making progress.

ECONOMIST: Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova

It is important to note that for the first time, the participants from museums of Transdniestria took part in the training.

UNESCO: OFFICE IN MOSCOW

The winding-up of Transdniestria would cause few tears except to its inventors.

ECONOMIST: Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova

In mainly Romanian-speaking Moldova, Russia maintains a big military base in a separatist enclave called Transdniestria, which abuts Ukraine and is largely populated by Slavs.

ECONOMIST: Russia and its neighbours

It is a helpful go- between in regional disputes, trying, for example, to find a settlement between Moldova and the mini-state of Transdniestria, whereas Russia is quite happy to keep that pot simmering.

ECONOMIST: Ukraine��s grim choice

The Kremlin is certainly putting pressure on Transdniestria.

ECONOMIST: A glimpse inside Transdniestria