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Transnistrian Conflict on May 1–15, 2011

Premises for resumption of 5+2 negotiations

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Petros Efthymiou visited Moldova on May 4–6, 2011. A meeting with interim Moldovan President Marian Lupu focussed on resumption of the 5+2 Transnistrian settlement negotiations. Mr. Lupu assured that there are internal and external premises for the resumption of negotiations, especially after the June-scheduled 5+2 meeting in Moscow. In his turn, Mr. Efthymiou said that the OSCE will keep providing all support for the conflict resolution, with respect for Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Mr. Efthymiou visited Tiraspol on May 6 and met Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov there. Mr. Efthymiou advised the Tiraspol leaders to accept a gradual settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, on the basis of small-step tactic, so that to settle a series of concrete problems at the beginning and to resolve cardinal issues afterwards. As well, the Parliamentary Assembly head informed that the OSCE has plans to organise a meeting between Moldovan and Transnistrian parliamentarians in Stockholm in October. The Transnistrian leader replied that the meeting concerned shall take place “without preliminary conditions”. He assured that the Transnistrian side “is not against meetings and is open to dialogue,” but Moldova’s representatives lay obstacles. In the context, he invoked an invitation made to Moldovan Premier Vladimir Filat to come for an official visit to Transnistria, but the latter did not give green light.

Smirnov calls Transnistrian foreign minister to account

Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov convoked on May 11 an enlarged sitting of the Transnistrian foreign ministry to make the totals of activity in 2010. Transnistrian foreign minister Vladimir Yastrebceak presented his report, stressing that “it was impossible to normalise the relations with the Republic of Moldova because the latter does not accept an equal-footing treatment for Transnistria in the negotiation process.” In addition, Yastrebceak noted that just an equal-footing treatment of Tiraspol by Chisinau during negotiations is not enough, as the latter should do so for all aspects related to interstate relations. According to Yastrebceak, the Moldovan authorities do not want to recognise Transnistria as a legal entity. He added that the participants in the 5+2 negotiations shall prepare the conditions needed to resume the official talks in this format, while Moldovan authorities do not move a finger in this respect.

Transnistrian security head Vladimir Antiufeev criticised Yastrebceak’s activity, saying that the so-called “confidence-building actions” promoted by Chisinau could end with the resumption of the 5+2 negotiations, so that documents signed between Chisinau and Tiraspol along years could be revised, as western representatives participating in the 5+2 format will have the right to vote. Antiufeev also stressed the danger born by the dependence of Transnistrian exporters on customs acts issued by competent Moldovan authorities, fearing that this encourages the manipulation of Transnistria’s will. He bitterly criticised the failure to coordinate the work of the foreign ministry with the security service, which cannot study the information for an appropriate political planning in such conditions. Antiufeev insisted on a strong position of Transnistria towards the negotiation process. Minister of economy Elena Cernenco is disappointed with operation of working groups, which do not make any decision and all economic contacts in these teams are reduced to a temporary registration of Transnistria-based businesses with competent Moldovan organs with the purpose to get the right to export.

While addressing the sitting, Igor Smirnov stressed that it seems the Transnistrian foreign ministry is not working to defend Transnistria’s interests, but to be gratified by participants in the 5+2 negotiations, so that it forgets that the recognition of independence in accordance with the results of the September 2006 referendum is the No.1 goal. Smirnov instructed the foreign minister to cooperate with the security service in order to provide more information. The tasks of the foreign ministry shall focus in future on:

Presidential elections in Transnistria set for December 11, 2011

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) in Transnistria has held a sitting to discuss the expense estimate and other organisational issues related to the presidential elections set for December 11, 2011. According to a CEC communication, the election-related expenses are estimated at about 800,000 dollars, of which 80 percent will cover salaries of electoral bodies.

Congress of majority party “Obnovlenye” decides to participate in presidential elections

The 3rd congress of the majority party from Transnistria decided on May 14, 2011 on participation in the presidential elections in Transnistria set for December 11. Taking part in the congress were more than 400 delegates and invitees on behalf of the Russian ruling party “Yedinaya Rossia”. The delegation representing the Russian ruling party was led by Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign policy commission of the State Duma, who welcomed the delegates on behalf of State Duma Speaker Boris Grizlov. The State Duma head said in a message that “Russia and Transnistria hold traditional friendship relations. As guarantor of stability and peacekeeper in the region, the Russian Federation will keep assisting the development and bloom of the Transnistrian republic…” Grizlov expressed support for the constitutional reform in Transnsitria, which aims to harmonise the legislation of the region with Russia’s laws.

While addressing the congress, the head of the Transnistrian Supreme Soviet, Anatolii Kaminski, leader of the majority party, said that the recognition of Transnistria as an entity of international law is the optimal route for the region. According to Kaminski, the recognition of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia, as well as of Kosovo by a number of western states inspires confidence that Transnistria can follow the same way. In the context, Kaminski stressed that the recognition of Transnistria’s independence by Russia would encourage the economic development of the region. Speaking about eventual terms for recognition of Transnistria’s independence by Russia, Kaminski assured that he understands the subtleties and the dependence on external factors, but as long as the conditions needed for the recognition of Transnistria’s independence were not fulfilled, Russia should use the 1996 State Duma Decision concerning “the declaration of Transnistria as a strategic zone of special interests for Russia.” Kaminski announced at the end of the congress that “Obnovlenye” has got enough experience in 10 years of life and can participate in the presidential elections on December 11, 2011. He noted that a candidate to the presidential office will be nominated at the 4th congress of “Obnovlenye” in September and he is ready to honour the confidence of the party he rules. (According to website www.regnum.ru).

Economic condition is worsening

Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov has issued an order to set up an interdepartmental commission in charge with “working out measures of state control on operation of industrial enterprises.” The commission is made of chairman Piotr Stepanov, minister of industry; Elena Cernenco, minister of economy; Irina Molocanova, minister of finance; Svetlana Izmestieva, chairwoman of the Chamber of Auditors. The decision comes after it was established that the privatisation launched in 2002 did not bring the expected results, as new owners fail their investment commitments. The Transnistrian news agency “Olvia-Press” published a list of important privatised industrial enterprises which are in a deplorable condition. On the other hand, Smirnov says that the state should keep levers of influence on privatised estates. He indicated the difficult condition of the Ribnita-based Metallurgical Plant (UMR) which got a large credit from authorities but cannot reimburse it now. Even worse, UMR has got into an open conflict with Transnistrian customs authorities led by Smirnov’s son, a fact indicating the political substratum of the conflict before the December 2011 presidential elections.

In these circumstances, local authorities in Ribnita advised the UMR administration to convoke the general assembly of shareholders with the purpose to find a solution for the enterprise which is stagnating for approximately one year, and this fact affects the municipal budget collections, increasing salary arrears. Other important businesses from Transnistria face similar problems. In consequence, Transnistria’s negative current account balance of payments was 643 million dollars in 2010, by about 24.3 percent more than in 2009. It seems that the situation is not improving this year.

Journalist Ernest Vardanean released

On May 5, 2011, Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov “assoiled” journalist Ernest Vardanean, who was arrested in April 2010 and sentenced to a 15-year jail term for “high treachery and espionage against Transnistria.” Vardanean was assoiled upon his demand, as he “admitted his guilt”, despite previous arguments that legal norms allow the reprieve just after half a term that means just in 2017. Smirnov’s action is regarded in the light of his plans to run for the 5th mandate of Transnistrian president and aims to humanise his image of leader of an unrecognised entity brought to a crass poverty borderline in 20 years of rule. On the other hand, Transnistrian authorities have one more citizen, Ilie Cazac, who was sentenced to a 14-year jail term for “high treachery and espionage against Transnistria” as well, but refuses to admit his guilt.

April 16–30, 2011 May 16–31, 2011