APE suggests updating Law on Transnistrian region

The Foreign Policy Association (APE) believes that the small-steps policy adopted by the Chisinau government is a correct solution for the Transnistrian settlement, but this policy contradicts the Law on Transnistria's status of 2005, which has to be updated and adjusted to the current context. According to executive director of APE Victor Chirila, the small-steps policy is a correct solution in the context of the Transnistrian settlement, but this policy might be conflicting with the 2005 Law on the Basic Provisions of the Legal Status of the Localities on the Left Side of the Nistru. “This Law, which was adopted in order to avoid the rapid federalization of Moldova according to the 2005 Yushchenko plan, stipulates that the negotiations with the Transnistrian region should aim towards the region's democratization and demilitarization, and negotiations on the special status of Transnistria will only take place after the demilitarization conditions are met. This implies, in fact, that the Russian Federation should honor the obligations assumed at the OSCE Summit in Istanbul in 1999 to evacuate all the ammunition from the region”, stated Victor Chirila. In the same context, Victor Chirila mentioned that the implication not only of Chisinau and Tiraspol, but also of foreign partners in the small steps policy that implies discussions on political-judicial issues, may lead to the emergence of some problems if the Law in question is not being respected. “Thus, in this context, the Law must be updated or adjusted to the context, such that the Moldovan negotiators don’t have to face such a dilemma; to have the necessary flexibility in the negotiation process, but in the meantime it is necessary that those 'red lines' which are stipulated by this Law be respected, reaffirmed by the current Parliament. These 'red lines' must have strong political support from the European Integration Alliance, first and foremost”, added Victor Chirila. He specified that initiating negotiations on the legal status of the Transnistrian region without the complete demilitarization, which is demanded by the Law of 2005, will deprive Moldovan negotiators of a solid legal base and will weaken their position at the negotiation table.