Transnistrian Conflict on December 1–31, 2008

Annual Ministerial Meeting of OSCE

The 16^th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council took place in Helsinki on December 4–5, 2008. Mr. Andrei Stratan, minister of foreign affairs and European integration, has addressed the meeting, approaching the Transnistrian settlement and OSCE’s role:

The OSCE shall prove its viability by effectively contributing to a peaceful resolution of conflicts, with respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and internationally recognised borders of countries;
The artificial fuelling of regional conflicts and protracted processes to settle them, inclusively the Transnistrian conflict, are reprehensible and counterproductive;
The failure of Moldova’s efforts may be explained first of all by political unwillingness of some players and imminent geopolitical nature of the Transnistrian problem;
Moldova has cogently promoted a complex “package” approach of all conflict-related issues — political, economic, social and humanitarian — in the last two years, by taking into account interests of all parties concerned;
The strategy proposed by Moldovan authorities stipulates the elaboration and adoption of a special legal status of the Transnistrian region as part of the Republic of Moldova within the “5+2” negotiation format; the consolidation of the neutrality status and the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country; the recognition of property rights and the granting of sure guarantees to people from the region;
The military contingents introduced in the conflict zone accordingly to the 1992 Moldovan-Russian ceasefire agreement had completed their tasks long ago;
The current operation from the Transnistrian region shall be replaced by an international multinational civic mission;
Moldovan authorities highly appreciate the direct EU participation in combating defiance against security in the region, particularly the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine, which has a worthy contribution to securing the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border, especially the Transnistrian section;
Moldova shares concerns relating to critical situation of the Adapted CFE Treaty, which it regards as an angle-stone of European security;
The withdrawal of Russian military and munitions from Moldova in compliance with commitments assumed at OSCE Summits shall be unconditional, complete and transparent (according to www.mfa.md).

Voronin-Smirnov meeting from 24 December 2008

President Vladimir Voronin had a meeting with Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov in Tiraspol on December 25, 2008. According to a communication released by the Ministry of Reintegration via Moldpres agency, the sides have discussed as follows:

Perspectives to resume the “5+2” negotiations, actions to be taken in order to activate working groups in charge with strengthening confidence and security;
Actions to ensure the free circulation of people and commodities between the two banks of the Dniester;
Continuation of the dialogue and consultations in the “2+1” format (Russia, Transnistria, Republic of Moldova) with the purpose to resume negotiations and settle the Transnistrian conflict definitively.

The next day, Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov stated that there is just one solution to the Transnistrian conflict — recognising the independence of the Transnistrian region — while Moldovan dignitaries resumed the rhetoric about negotiating a solution in the “5+2” format only.

Economic developments

Industrial production has decreased by 20–30 percent in the 4^th trimester and sales dropped by 40–60 percent. In consequence, budgetary collections have declined by 20–30 percent. Developments in the metallurgical plant and cement factory in Ribnita raise the worst concern. For example, output of metallurgical plant has dropped twofold and sales fourfold. The Tiraspol Supreme Soviet has sought financial aid from Russian authorities. At the same time, the budget of the region was adopted; it foresees incomes worth about 132 million dollars, expenses in the amount of approximately 234 million dollars, a deficit of about 102 million dollars (which will probably covered with Russia’s support).

Perception of situation in Transnistria by people

The newspaper “Novaiya Gazeta” has published findings of a survey conducted in the Transnistrian region by the think tank Novyi Vek in the 4^th quarter, which reveal that effects of the financial crisis are experienced. Only 3.6 percent of Transnistrian respondents consider that the economic situation in the region is satisfactory. As regards incomes of people, ¼ said that their earnings are insufficient for the strictly necessary; 47 percent can afford only the strictly necessary; 23.4 percent can afford a decent living, without affording luxury objects; 3.8 percent earn enough to buy luxury objects as well. In 2008, living standards of 40 percent of Transnistria’s population have worsened, while another 26.6 percent experienced a serious decline of their living standards. At the same time, 20 percent of respondents said that their living standards did not change, 8 percent consider that their living standards have improved, and they improved much for approximately 1 percent. The general climate in the Transnistrian region is pessimistic, as 35.7 percent of respondents fear that the economic situation in the region will not improve, while another 37.9 percent consider that the very bad situation would be redressed through radical changes, and only 10 percent are sure that the situation will improve soon.

Concerns of labour unionists

Representatives of education unions from Transnistria convened in a plenary assembly in early December 2008 to discuss the massive withdrawal of teachers from the education system. Statistics are alarming, since 412 teachers have left schools in Tiraspol, 346 in Ribnita and 142 in Dubasari in 2008. The reason is very low salaries of teachers. Unionists say that teachers with a work length of more than 15 years and maximum charge earn approximately 180 dollars a month. On the other hand, minimum wage in non-budgetary sector is approximately 200 dollars. Given existing economic difficulties, the condition of teachers will unlikely improve in 2009 and many teachers decide to quit the education system.

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