Transnistrian Conflict on August 31 – September 12, 2005

Between 31 August and 2 September, the Transnistrian authorities organised a series of events to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the “Transnistrian state”. The tone of manifestations was set by the Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov who held a press conference on 31 August. “The statehood of Transnistria alone is the guarantee of life and security of the inhabitants of the region”, told Smirnov the press conference, qualifying Moldova’s policy towards the Transnistrian region as a “political theft under the cover of democracy and respect for human rights”. Smirnov reiterated his readiness to restart the political negotiations with Moldova, but only on terms of equality, and showed ready to offer all borders and enterprise to international monitors, saying that in Transnistria there exist “all the premises for fighting border smuggling”. Smirnov also declared that the peacekeeping operation should be carried out under Russian leadership, because the “people trust the Russian peacekeepers” and Russia has always been present in the region. Speaking about the legislative elections scheduled for the end of 2005, Smirnov said they will take place to schedule “according to the laws of Transnistria”. “We have invited foreign observers to monitor the elections and we have done everything to ensure they are open ones. The international community can recognise them or not,” Smirnov also said.

The key celebrations included a festive meeting on 1 September attended by a group of Russian deputies, a show about the history of Transnistria and a military parade on 2 September. In addition, three commemorative coins of gold and silver were put into circulation on the occasion. According to a communique of Smirnov’s press service, over 30 foreign media institutions accredited journalists at the manifestations, including BBC, Reuters and France-press. Delegations from Abkhazia, Northern Karabakh and South Ossethia attended, as well as a delegation from Russia, led by the Deputy Speaker of the Russian Duma, Serghei Baburin.

In an interview with Transnistria’s official news agency Olvia-press, the latter defined Transnistria as a “geopolitical reality” and stated that Moldova and Transnistria are at present “two different states that have emerged from the ruins of the former MSSR”. Pointing to a change of “the ideology of power” in Moscow, Baburin expressed hope that already during President Putin’s current mandate Russia will recognise Transnistria as an independent and sovereign state.

It is worth noting that during the same period Russia’s special representative to the talks on the Transnistrian conflict resolution, Ambassador with Special Missions of the Russian MFA, Valeri Nesteruskin, told the press in Moscow that for the time being the necessary conditions for the evacuation of the Russian troops from Transnistria are not in place. Among the “necessary conditions” for the evacuation Nesteruskin mentioned an active political dialogue between the conflicting parties that would allow for a well organised and constructive cooperation with the local authorities in the process. At the same time, Nesteruskin said that Russia will only withdraw its army from Transnistria when it will be sure that “some unacceptable conditions will not be forced upon Tiraspol”.

Among other important events related to the Transnistrian conflict resolution one may also mention the two initiatives launched in Bucharest, one on the state of negotiations and another one proposing on possible evolutions in the field.

Romanian Academic Society (SAR Policy Brief no.16) launched the project “How could we help Moldova to help itself”. According to the report, intensively promoting Transnistrian issue under the current political context might be counterproductive both to Romania’s security and Republic of Moldova’ consolidation.

It is believed that Moldova should progress in European accession as Cyprus did, while the conflict resolution might go high on Romania’s agenda once it becomes an EU member. Until then, Republic of Moldova should steer its foreign policy towards West rather than East and get seriously prepared for joining EU. In essence, the project envisages Moldova becoming autonomous from Transnistria, while the latter be isolated via an international embargo.

Meantime, MP Adrian Severin released in Bucharest the policy research developed by “Ovidiu Shincai” Institute entitled “Transnistria — evolution of the frozen conflict and prospects of resolution”. The document recommends decision-makers in Bucharest to take steps in view of “setting loose Transnistria as a territory of the Republic of Moldova and placing it under a regime similar to that applied to Kosovo province”. Later, after being placed under international protectorate, the 3D (demilitarization, democratization and decriminalization) strategy should be applied. Simultaneously, a process similar to the one launched in Cyprus aimed at Republic of Moldova accession to EU should start, provided that EU “would replace its good neighborhood policy for Moldova into an integration, enlargement one”.

The report claims that “after Romania and Bulgaria join EU, the next two countries to follow should be Croatia and Republic of Moldova. Republic of Moldova’s accession to EU should represent a security guarantee for EU’s eastern border. EU’s borders lying on Dniester river would be stable on the long-term, while Ukraine stands slim chances of accession to EU”.

For now, none of Moldovan officials commented on the two initiatives. The official press reported that on September 11, Moldovan and Romanian Foreign Ministers met in Iasi.

e-democracy.md

Transnistrian Conflict on August 31 – September 12, 2005

Archive