TIRASPOL, April 02. /ITAR-TASS/. The leader of the self-proclaimed Republic of Transdniestria said the territory's people are increasingly hopeful for a fair settlement of the frozen local conflict.

In an exclusive interview with Itar-Tass on Wednesday Yevgeny Shevchuk said “Crimea’s accession to Russia has raised hopes for a fair resolution of the Transdniestrian dispute.”

“The residents of the Republic of Crimea have decided their fate in the most democratic way - at a referendum,” he said.

In 2006, over 97% of Transdniestria's electorate voted for independence and eventual accession to Russia, Shevchuk said.

“With the situation in the world changing so rapidly, we do believe that the international partners who are involved in the settlement of the conflict in Transdniestria will decide that a fair solution can only be reached by recognising the will of the Transdniestrian people,” he said.

“The longstanding conflict has been discussed at the highest level. We hope that it will be eventually resolved,” Shevchuk said.

“Moldova’s authorities have delegated most of their political and economic powers to the European Union despite the fact that over 50% of citizens back integration into the Customs Union,” he said.

“We respect Chisinau’s decision. But one should not forget the rights of Transdniestria's people,” Shevchuk said.