Transnistria’s Foreign Ministry against current peacekeeping format
Transnistria’s Foreign Ministry against current peacekeeping format
28 Oct 2009
Infotag
Tiraspol. The idea of transforming the incumbent peacekeeping format is being promoted not in the interests of people but for the sake of achieving certain political goals, believes Transnistrian minister of foreign affairs Vladimir Yastrebchak.
The minister stated to journalists he sees no point in the so-called ‘internationalization’ of the peacekeeping operation in Transnistria.
“As a matter of fact, the existing format has already been multinational: the peacekeeping operation involves Russia, Moldova, Transnistria, foreign observers from Ukraine and the OSCE”, Vladimir Yastrebchak stressed.
In his opinion, the forthcoming November 6 consultations in Vienna do not mean restarting of the 5+2 negotiation process.
“For us, this will be a preparation for discussing all aspects related to Moldo-Transnistrian settlement. Besides, it is a possibility to get acquainted with Moldova’s new political representative. We hope the Vienna meeting will let clarify the stance of Chisinau’s on questions presenting interest for us”, the foreign minister said.
Yastrebchak voiced concern over a long pause in the work of expert groups. He presumes they could well resume their work despite the still continuing formation of government structures in the Republic of Moldova.
Commenting the “loud statements” being heard these days from new Chisinau leaders, Yastrebchak stated, “These are just words intended for foreign interlocutors… Statements must not go separately from deeds. If Chisinau demands to remove Russian peacekeepers from Transnistria, it must first determine its attitude to the 1992 Agreement [on the principles of a peaceful settlement in Transnistria] and to the March 18, 2009 Joint Statement signed in Moscow by the presidents of Russia, Transnistria and Moldova. In this, our Moldovan colleagues have a certain legal freedom. For instance, they have the right to denounce the 1992 Agreement, though in such case everybody knows what consequences such a practical step will trigger. And these consequences will be extremely practical, too”.
Vladimir Yastrebchak voiced discontent that although Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat is speaking about establishing contacts between the residents of Moldova and Transnistria, he undertakes no practical deeds.
“I mean the absence of whatever progress in de-blocking of railroad communication in Transnistria, in ceasing criminal prosecution by Moldova of Transnistrian officials, in removing restrictions imposed on Transnistrian economic operators”, explained the Transnistrian foreign minister.
The new Moldovan authorities presume that the existing peacekeeping military mechanism should be replaced with a mission of foreign civilian observers because the situation in the Transnistria Security Zone has long ago settled and normalized, so the presence of the armed military and their combat machines do not promote a lasting settlement of the Transnistria conflict.
Reference: www.infotag.md
