The Moldavian government sacked the sanctions set last year against commerce with the rebel province of Transdnistria. Moldavian president Vladimir Voronin announced it last Sunday. Rompres says Voronin explained that "as compared to last year, things have changed to the better". Since 2004 Moldavia has not released export certificates for Transdnistria's companies after local authorities closed down two Romanian language schools. In the meantime the latter have been reopened. Voronin mentioned that economy sanctions were necessary also because of the lack of control on the border between Transdnistria and Ukraine, but that the new Ukrainian administration made progress with border control. Authorities in Transdnistria have been complaining that these sanctions causing losses reaching $ 65 million in the region, but this time the leaders have not commented on the decision reached by officials in Chisinau. The newly adopted legislation in Chisinau has it that the autonomy of Transdnistria would be enlarged if Transdnistria renounced all claims related to independence and demilitarization. Transdnistria is to get its own legislative body and in the region where most people speak Russian three official languages are to be set: Romanian, Russian and Ukrainian. According to the new legislation, the region is to be demilitarized. Right now in Transdnistria there are 1,500 Russian soldiers. (D.E.)