Transnistrian Conflict on February 15–28, 2011

Consultations in “5+2” format will continue in April

The next meeting of participants in Transnistrian conflict settlement process in “5+2” format is scheduled for the first half of April. Meanwhile, Transnistrian diplomacy intends to pursue international public opinion of the existence of legal grounds for the independence of Transnistria. According to Transnistrian diplomacy chief, Vladimir Yastrebchak, Moldovan authorities’ efforts to resume negotiations in “5+2” format to discuss the reintegration of the Republic of Moldova can not be the purpose pursued by Transnistria as well. The purpose of “5+2” format should be not the reintegration of Moldova, but to identify the model of final conflict settlement. In the same context, the Transnistrian diplomacy chief believes that for Tiraspol administration it is not a priority to debate to discuss the issues, upon which the Moldovan representative insisted within “5+2” consultations in Vienna on February 14–15, 2011: withdrawal of Russian military presence and transformation of Russia’s peacekeeping mission in an international civilian mission; uplifting the status of U.S. and EU in the settlement process from the level of mediators to one of observers. Except for the representatives of Transnistria and Russia, other representatives of “5+2” format support the resumption of negotiations in that format. In this context, OSCE calls for resumption of negotiations to discuss and solve existing problems step by step. Ukraine considers it necessary to resume official negotiations process. At the same time, Russia believes that before talking about the resumption of official negotiations a working agenda should be set out to prevent similar cases as those of five years ago when Moldovan delegation left without explanation the “5+2” meeting, and the lack of agenda allows discussion of all sorts of problems but those directly related to the settlement of Transnistrian conflict.

The fourth Trilateral EUBAM meeting

On 23 February 2011 the fourth Trilateral meeting of the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) was held with the participation of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. According to Moldpres Agency the parties were represented at the meeting by the Head of EUBAM, Udo Burkholder, the Director of Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) of the Republic of Moldova, George Michael, and the Head of Ukrainian Security Service (SSU), Valery Horoshkovsky. Participants showed the positive results achieved in the exchange of information and in conducting joint investigations. It was qualified as a success the Operation of Joint Border Control (OCCF) TYRA 2010. SIS and SSU played an important role in planning, implementing and evaluating the operation, which culminated in the seizure of smuggled goods worth € 35,000. Udo Burkholder referred to the need to continue to fight border crime, which can be achieved only by joint efforts of EUBAM, Moldova and Ukraine.

Debates on amendments to the Transnistrian constitution

In Transnistria the debates are going on about amending the constitution with the participation of interested institutions. Ministry of Justice has delivered its opinion, noting that although a number of issues were adjusted, however there are still issues to be resolved. In this context, the President of the Supreme Soviet, Anatoly Kaminsky, said the final draft will be submitted for review to the Russian State Duma, as the purpose of amending Transnistrian constitution is to adjust it to the Russian constitutional model. At the same time, Kaminsky believes that the law on government must be drafted and enter into force at the same time with the constitutional amendments.

Misunderstandings in Security Zone

Moldovan delegation in Joint Control Commission (JCC) has expressed its concern about the reconstruction by Transnistrian administration of the floating bridge connecting Tiraspol with localities on the right bank of the river Nistru in Slobozia district. According to the representative of the Republic of Moldova, Ion Solonenco, the rebuilt floating bridge can carry weights of approximately three and a half tons and could potentially be used by Transnistrian administration to transport armored vehicles. Transnistrian JCC representative, Oleg Belyakov, replied that the floating bridge operates tens of years and needs repairs, and the Moldovan delegation seeks pretexts to destabilize the situation. In the same context, the JCC discussed disagreements about the deployment of police posts in Security Zone. Moldovan side insists that Transnistrian border guards have nothing to do in place where the peacekeepers are present, because it is provided by the 1992 Agreement on the resolution of armed conflict in the eastern districts of the republic of Moldova. Transnistrian side, by contrast, insists that these issues do not fall within the JCC competence, but under the competence of a special commission that has been established back in 1998, at the highest level, in the negotiation process. According to Transnistrian side, Moldovan delegation insists on this matter because they would like to weaken the positions of Transnistria, ignoring the fact that in Bender there is Moldovan police and penitentiaries of the Republic of Moldova, with existing risks of some operations in detriment of Transnistria, which must defend itself. Another issue raised in JCC was that on the deployment place of peacekeepers at the hydroelectric power station in Dubasari on the right bank of Nistru. Moldovan delegation insists that it should be placed right in the station’s dam, and Transnistrian delegation wants it to be installed on shore. The decision to deploy this post was made five years ago, but Transnistrian side does not agree that Republic of Moldova should install the post directly in the station. In these circumstances, Moldovan side proposes that the second post would not be installed at all, and its activity area to be extended on both banks of Nistru, because only pedestrian traffic is allowed on the dam. Tiraspol replies that it can not allow this, because “it is a strategic and not an industrial object, which has no coverage from Moldova”, that’s why Transnistrian post of peacekeepers is placed on the dam at the entrance to the administrative block of the station. In addition, at about 100 meters from it there is an installed cabin with a permanent representative of Transnistrian interior forces, who verifies on random bases the IDs of those who cross the dam. In 2006 JCC agreed on unimpeded crossing by people, including the Moldovan law enforcement employees, towards their workplace on the left bank of Nistru. (According to Infotag Agency)

Measures necessary to overcome the economic crisis

In a meeting with the local authorities of Ribnita municipality, the chairman of Transnistrian Supreme Soviet, Anatoly Kaminsky, outlined the economic situation in the region, concluding that it is possible to overcome the economic crisis only by identifying new solutions based on the use of internal reserves. According to Kaminsky the small and medium sized business is to be developed, the contribution of which to GDP is currently only 7%, while in developed countries it is 50–60%. Legal rules should be reviewed, both those concerning the customs tariffs, as well as those concerning the supervision of companies. Kaminsky acknowledged that Transnistria has failed to build a self-sufficient economic system and it is now clear that the focus on large enterprises was a wrong one, and this became clear after the outbreak of global financial and economic crisis, which radically changed the behavior of large investors, who no longer honour the investment obligations assumed at the time of privatization of Transnistrian economic giants. In total about 40% of large companies do not fulfil their investment obligations. Consequently, the budgets of all levels suffer. In the same vein, Kaminsky noted the current deficit: $70 million in the Pension Fond of Transnistria; $1 million in the Fund for Unemployed Assistance; $3 million in the Social Insurance Fund. Also, Kaminsky considers that Transnistria must review its agricultural policies and to return to producing high quality agricultural products.

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