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Transnistrian Conflict on April 12–28, 2006

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The first anniversary of President Yushcenko’s initiative

On 22 April was the first anniversary of the launching of Ukrainian President Victor Yushcenko’s Transnistrian settlement initiative, “Towards settlement through democracy”. On this occasion, on 20 April, Ukraine Foreign Minister, Boris Tarasiuk, held a press conference at which he summed up the results of the measures that have been taken as part of the Ukrainian initiative. Boris Tarasiuk stated that the situation in Transnistrian remains one of the key problems of national security of Ukraine, and ensuring regional security and stability is one of the priorities of Ukraine’s foreign policy. According to Tarasiuk, for Ukraine the principles of a viable settlement is the community of democratic values, the rule of law, the respect for human rights and freedoms, as well as the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova. Tarasiuk mentioned among the achievements registered within the Ukrainian initiative the enlargement of the negotiations format after the US and the EU joined it as observers, the resumption of the negotiations process, the launch of the EU Border Assistance Mission on 1 December 2005, as well as the introduction of the unified Ukrainian-Moldovan customs regime from 3 March 2006. “Ukraine will observe strictly its obligations regarding the customs procedures at the Ukrainian-Moldovan border,” said Tarasiuk, mentioning at the same time the need for the Moldovan Government to improve the fiscal procedures applied in the case of Transnistrian enterprises and to provide additional guarantees for ownership rights in Transnistria.

Tarasiuk hailed the consultations of mediators and observers that took place on 19 April in Moscow to discuss the prospects of the “5+2” negotiations format, which was interrupted at the end of February. At the same time, despite the optimism of the Transnistrian official, the Moscow consultations produced little results, and the participation of the two parties was not possible due to the worsening of relations after the institution of the new customs regime.

On the other hand, although the Transnistrian authorities did not completely withdraw their support for the Ukrainian plan, they have questioned lately its validity, accusing Ukraine of having compromised as a mediator state after having instituted the “economic blockade” against Transnistria. The Transnistrian authorities seem ever more reluctant to accept the application of one of the key provisions, of the Ukrainian plan, the holding of democratic elections in the region under international monitoring. In a commentary published by the official news agency of Transnistria, Olvia-press, on the draft mandate of the international election assessment mission prepared by the OSCE Mission in Moldova, the Transnistrian “foreign ministry” qualifies the OSCE draft as one “running counter to the Transnistria’s interests”. This position is supported by the “deputies of the parliamentary commission for foreign policy and international relations”, who rejected most of the provisions of the document, which they found in breach of the “sovereign right” of Transnistria to determine and organise elections on its soil.

Thus, although during one year since the launch of the Ukrainian initiative a series of important steps forward have been made, primarily due to the political change in Kiev and a greater EU involvement, the prospects of fully implementing the said initiative are dim after the position of Transnistrian authorities, heavily supported by the Russian Federation, has substantially radicalised after the introduction of the Moldovan-Ukrainian single customs regime.

Part of this scenario of radicalisation is the initiative launched at the “congress of all deputies” of Transnistria of 31 March to organise a referendum on the future foreign policy orientation of the region. The initiative has been taken over by the so-called “anti-blockade committee” of public associations which have proposed to the “Supreme Soviet” two questions for the referendum: one regarding the “accession of Transnistria to Moldova as an autonomy” and the other regarding the accession of the “Transnistrian independent republic” to the Russian Federation, which is the “lawful heir of the Soviet Union”. The referendum, according to the recommendations of the “anti-blockade committee” is to take place, at the latest, at the same time with the “presidential elections” scheduled for the end of 2006. The Moldovan authorities stated earlier that in the event that such a referendum takes place, it will not be recognised either by Chisinau, or by the international community.

The customs regime at the Moldovan-Ukrainian border

Over 110 Transnistrian enterprises have registered to date at the State Registration Chamber of Moldova, ensuring around 90% of the foreign economic activity of Transnistria. 10 Transnistrian economic agents received activity licences from the State Chamber of Licensing of Moldova. Between 13 February and 14 April, the State Registration Chamber issued 299 certificates of origin and export licences to Transnistrian businesses, of which 251 were preferential ones, according to Moldpress which quoted a Ministry of Reintegration communique. At the same time, the Transnistrian economic agents registered in Chisinau do not export their goods to Ukraine, either of their own decision, or under pressure, as a gesture of protest against the unified Moldova-Ukrainian regime. This statement was made by the deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, special representative on Transnistrian issue, Andrei Vasilovskii, quested by Regnum.ru, who also said that the fact that so many enterprises have registered with the Moldovan authorities shows that slowly an understanding of the new rules is being reached.

On the other hand, during the reporting period a series of representatives of Ukrainian customs and border guard services have stated that the situation at the border has stabilised and the transit of smuggled goods over the border has substantially reduced. According to the Ukrainian border guards department, in January — March 2006 contraband goods worth 4.3 million Ukrainian Grivna were held. For comparison, during the same period of last year, smuggled goods worth 8 million Grivna were confiscated. Ukrainian officials have explained that the toughening of the border crossing regime makes difficult the smuggling of large lots of goods, however, petty smuggling, including by avoiding the customs check points, is still widely practiced.

March 29 – April 11, 2006 April 29 – May 15, 2006