Transnistrian Conflict on February 15 – March 1, 2009

Efforts to resume negotiations

On February 25, 2009, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Valeriu Ostalep had a meeting with Ambassador Charalampos Christopoulos, special envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, who was on a working visit to Moldova. The two officials discussed the present stage of the Transnistria resolution process, stressing the necessity of sustained efforts to resume the “5+2” negotiations. The special envoy of the Greek OSCE Chairmanship confirmed the OSCE support for Moldovan initiatives aimed to settle the Transnistrian conflict. The Greek official reiterated the importance of further promoting confidence-building actions between the two banks of the Dniester, stressing that the final resolution of the conflict may be agreed in the “5+2” format on the basis of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.

On February 26, 2009, Ambassador Charalampos Christopoulos met representatives of Transnistrian authorities in Tiraspol who said as follows:

Tiraspol has proposed many resolutions throughout years, but Chisinau turned down all of them;
The referendum conducted in the region in September 2006 revealed that people want to be closer to Russia, not Moldova;
Replying to the law concerning the conflict resolution principles adopted by Moldova’s Parliament in July 2005, Transnistrian authorities have proposed a matching document to Moldovan leadership, in particular, to sign a friendship and good neighbourhood agreement that means to recognise the independence of the region;
Transnistria insists on an equal footing for the conflicting sides, in accordance with the May 1997 Memorandum;
The Republic of Moldova does not respect the 84 documents signed with Transnistria, of them 30 were signed with President Vladimir Voronin;
The Republic of Moldova does not respect its international commitments since it has pledged to respect the clause of the 1997 Memorandum on Transnistria’s right to external economic activity when it was accepted in WTO;
Important developments relating to the Transnistrian settlement are unlike before the April 5, 2009 parliamentary elections, as Moldovan authorities are looking for propagandistic brain waves rather than for solutions to the conflict;
Tiraspol keeps trusting into cooperation with Russia and Smirnov, and it was recently discussed in Moscow, within the February 12 meeting between Smirnov and Lavrov, the implementation of the Zhukov-Smirnov economic assistance protocol signed in 2006, as well as Russia’s financial aid to Transnistria;
Russia supports the “5+2” negotiations, but thinks that consultations in a “2+1” format are useful to elaborate solutions and propose them for discussions in the “5+2” format;
Transnistria supports Russia’s peacekeeping mission and regards it successful.

Deputy Minister of Reintegration Ion Stavila and Ukrainian Ambassador to Moldova Sergei Pirozhkov have discussed Transnistria settlement aspects. The discussion had an informative purpose, with the sides informing each other about recent consultations on resolution process and actions to be taken soon. They stressed the importance of all consultations aimed at resuming the “5+2” negotiation process, within which to work out the special legal status of Transnistria by respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova. In this context, they considered initiatives on development of Moldovan-Ukrainian cooperation within Euroregions aimed to help strengthening confidence and make appropriate conditions for the definitive settlement of the conflict. (According to MOLDPRES agency)

Impact of Russian foreign minister’s visit to Moldova

While on a visit to Moldova on February 23–24, 2009, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated:

The resolution of the Transnistrian conflict rests with Chisinau and Tiraspol;
Russia is an active participation in the peacekeeping operation in security zone and guarantor of the conflict resolution;
Russia will help building confidence between the parties by backing President Voronin’s initiatives;
Russia welcomes the resumption of direct contacts between Vladimir Voronin and Igor Smirnov;
A trilateral meeting with the participation of Russian President Dmitri Medvedev could be organised; that means “2+1” consultations;
The “5+2” negotiations shall restart, as all parties involved (Russia, Ukraine, OSCE, U.S., EU and representatives of Chisinau and Tiraspol) recognise them. (According to MOLDPRES agency)

Interview between President Vladimir Voronin and Moscow-based newspaper Kommersant

The Moscow-based newspaper Kommersant has published an interview with Moldova’s president after the visit by Russian foreign minister to Chisinau. Vladimir Voronin confirmed that a trilateral meeting Medvedev-Voronin-Smirnov could take place in March to discuss the Transnistrian settlement. Voronin stressed that “5+2” is the only format for negotiations and the “2+1” meeting will be for consultation and communications could be consequently released to inform the public. Voronin was sceptical that Smirnov would accept to sign any declaration on necessity to respect the territorial integrity of Moldova. At the same time, President Voronin noted that, during the eventual meeting with his counterpart Medvedev, he would like to learn the opinion of the Russian leadership regarding the “package approach” accepted by OSCE, Ukraine, EU and U.S. Speaking about the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Moldova, President Voronin was confident that his Party of Communists (PCRM) will win an absolute or perhaps a constitutional majority. According to Voronin, PCRM would need a constitutional majority to modify the Constitution, so that to allow a definitive settlement of the Transnistrian conflict. Voronin stressed that he agreed with Minister Lavrov that, in the event of problems related to preparations for the meeting with President Medvedev, it would be better to organise it after the April 5 parliamentary elections.

Impact of economic crisis

The international economic crisis has a negative impact on Transnistria. In particular, just about 40 out of approximately 100 export enterprises in Transnistria keep working. The geography of exports has changed much. Earlier, 56 percent of supplies went to CIS and only 44 percent to the European Union. Now, 64 percent of exports go to EU and only 25 percent to CIS. The sudden fall of exports to CIS is linked to the serious depreciation of Russian rouble, by 30 percent, and Ukrainian hryvna, by about 60 percent. Hence, Transnistrian-made products worth 100 dollars exported to Russia and Ukraine compete with similar products made by local companies which cost 60–70 dollars. A number of enterprises have ceased their activity, in particular, the Ribnita-based cement plant and the Tiraspol-based household appliance manufacturer. Enterprises Litmas, Electromas and Tirotex have restarted working but very slowly. The Ribnita-based metallurgical plant uses 40 percent of manufacturing capacities. The highest unemployment rate is expected in the region in March. Under these conditions, Transnistrian speaker Evgheny Shevciuk has met the E.U. special representative to Moldova, Kalman Mizsei, to discuss possibilities to facilitate Transnistrian exports to EU.

Reactions to extended travel restrictions for Transnistrian leaders

The Transnistrian diplomacy has raised concern with the extended EU and U.S. travel restrictions on a number of Transnistrian officials. Transnistrian authorities claim that these practices are unjustified, while the EU and U.S. consider that Transnistrian leaders do not prove a sincere interest to settle the Transnistrian conflict, this being the main reason of travel restrictions. On the other hand, the Transnistrian side assures that it is interested in settling the conflict, accusing the Republic of Moldova of having adopted the July 2005 law with the purpose to obstruct the Transnistrian settlement. Therefore, it fears that EU and U.S. actions do not encourage confidence-building measures between the sides. Even more, Transnistrian authorities recall the U.S. and EU the way they have recognised the independence of Kosovo. They regard the travel restrictions on Transnistrian leaders as a pressure which has a contrary effect, as they cannot make their viewpoints loud. Definitively, Transnistrian authorities threatened the U.S. and EU that they will reply. The list of Transnistrian leaders restricted from entering the U.S. and EU, which Transnistria media compares with the “Schindler List” (?!), includes 19 officials headed by Igor Smirnov. Russian special envoy Valeriy Nesteruskin says that prohibitive actions cannot encourage the Chisinau-Tiraspol dialogue.

Humanitarian aid problems

Deputy Minister of Reintegration Ion Stavila was baffled with recent public statements delivered by the head of the International Organisation Doctors without Borders Mission, Mark Walsh, who said that people from the Transnistrian region get just a low percent of the humanitarian aid provided to Moldova. While meeting Mark Walsh, the Moldovan official described these accusations as biased and untrue. According to Stavila, the Government and foreign donors have provided humanitarian aid worth over 40 million dollars to residents of the Transnistrian region in the past two years. The aid included eyeglasses, prostheses, hearing devices, and wheelchairs for retirees and disabled people, material goods to remedy consequences of natural disasters, donations of equipment and drugs for health institutions from the left bank of the Dniester, etc. Stavila regretted artificial obstacles laid by Tiraspol structures, which harden the dissemination of Moldova’s humanitarian aid in the region for political reasons. He reiterated willingness of Chisinau authorities to keep promoting confidence-building and sustain people in the Transnistria settlement process. (According to MOLDPRES agency)

ECHR likely to award victory to Interdnestrcom

The Transnistrian media has reported that the ECHR could award victory to the Transnistrian telecommunication operator Interdnestrcom versus Moldovan Government, as the case is being studied. Some years ago, Interdnestrcom had bought a mobile telephony licence from Moldovan Government and paid one million dollars. Meanwhile, Moldovan authorities annulled the licence and refused to repay the money.

e-democracy.md