TIRASPOL, February 19 (RIA Novosti) - Moldova's breakaway republic of Transdnestr is seeking international recognition for its self-determination following Kosovo's declaration of independence on Sunday, the republic's foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Transdnestr, which has a large ethnic Russian population, proclaimed its independence from Moldova after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In December 2007, Transdnestr said it would seek recognition for its independence from Moldova if the Kosovo issue was resolved in favor of Albanian separatists.

"The declaration and consequent recognition of Kosovo are of principal importance since they create a new model of conflict settlement based on the priority of the right for self-determination of the nation," the statement said.

The Moldovan authorities have repeatedly stated that the Kosovo issue has nothing in common with the "frozen" conflict in the region since there are no ethnic or religious conflicts.

Russia and Ukraine are the guarantors for a peaceful settlement of the 1992 armed conflict between Moldova and Transdnestr.