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Transnistrian Conflict on August 2–31, 2008
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e-journal #123 |
Once the armed conflict in South Ossetia started on August 8, 2008, Transnistrian authorities decided to introduce on August 11 a Moratorium on contacts with Moldovan authorities. An announcement in this regard was made by foreign ministry of the self-proclaimed republic. It motivated that Moldovan authorities did not condemn Georgia’s aggression in South Ossetia. On August 22, 2008 ad-interim foreign minister of Transnistria Vladimir Yastrebciac confirmed this position during a meeting with the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Filip Remler.
On August 25, 2008 Russian President Dmitri Medvedev invited his Moldovan counterpart Vladimir Voronin at the Bochyarov Ruchei resident in Sochi. According to Moldovan official press releases, the Russian president said about the conflict in the South Ossetia that “it demonstrated how dangerous frozen conflicts may be.” Speaking about the Transnistrian problem, Mr. Medvedev assured that there are very good opportunities and possibilities now to settle the Transnistrian conflict, stressing the importance of formulating the approach and ways to settle the Transnistrian problem. In his turn, President Voronin said that “Moldova has carefully monitored developments in Georgia, give the frozen conflict in our country.” In this context, President Voronin stressed the “necessity to draw conclusions on existing conflicts in the region and to find a lasting solution to the Transnistrian problem on a peaceful way.” The two sides reconfirmed their intention to go on with consultations, making plans to hold meetings and negotiations with all interested parties, including representatives of Transnistria. (According to Moldpres)
The same day, Russian president has met Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov. The talks with Smirnov made the foreign ministry of the self-proclaimed Transnistrian republic react to statements by President Voronin regarding topics he has discussed in Sochi. According to the Transnistrian foreign ministry, President Voronin’s statements are not true, they aim to mislead the international public opinion and introduce wishes of Chisinau as accomplished facts. Indeed, Voronin was invited in Sochi “to call upon the Republic of Moldova to refrain from uncalculated actions in the Transnistrian settlement process, which could stir up tensions in the region.” A confirmation in this regard would be Voronin’s remark during the meeting with Medvedev: “Moldovan authorities were very wise since the existence of the Transnistrian conflict to prevent an eventual escalading of the situation.” Transnistrian authorities were revolted with Voronin’s statements that the Republic of Moldova has got Russia’s support for a new draft law on autonomy status of Transnistria as part of Moldova, which would be based on the July 22, 2005 Law on basic regulations of the special legal status of localities from the left bank of the Dniester River. Transnistria considers that the optimal solution to the conflict would be a complex one, adopted on parity principles via mediation by Russia, Ukraine and OSCE. The basic principles of the resolution were explained in the draft agreement on friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and Transnsitria, which Igor Smirnov handed in to President Voronin at the April 11, 2008 meeting.
On August 26, 2008, when Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov explained Russia’s attitude towards the Transnistrian settlement, saying that the parties involved in the Transnistrian conflict are ready to reconsider the “Kozak Plan”. According to Lavrov, no frozen conflict was so close to being settled like the Transnistrian issue: “Almost all the conflicting parties are sure of the necessity to reconsider the principles which were close to bring the Transnistrian resolution in 2003. We are studying them with Chisinau and Tiraspol, observers and we hope to make progress in this regard very soon.”
On the other hand, on August 27, 2008 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vladimir Ogrizko told a news conference with the participation of British Foreign Minister David Milibend that Ukraine will continue to call for the implementation of the Yushchenko Plan on Transnistrian settlement. “Ukraine firmly supports the territorial integrity of Moldova, which cannot be violated… Any solutions like those concerning Abkhazia and South Ossetia will be illegitimate and will be not recognised by the international community, as they violate the international law and the U.N. status.”
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