David Merkel: “The U.S. does not think that Moldova moves away from the West when attempting to solve the Transnistrian dispute at direct talks with Russia”

“The United States of America does not think that the Republic of Moldova moves away from the Western partners when it attempts to resolve the Transnistrian conflict at direct talks with Russia,” David Merkel, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, told Free Europe Radio in Chisinau. David Merkel is in charge of Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus and deals with non-proliferation problems in the region, Info-Prim Neo informs. In this connection, the U.S. official said: “We had constructive discussions with President Voronin, Foreign Minister and all the people are convinced of the usefulness of the talks in the 5+2 format, which can offer real chances of identifying a sustainable solution. Russia participates in the 5+2 format talks, plays an important role and we would like it to play a constructive role in finding a definitive solution.” Asked what he thinks about the assurances about the possibility of solving the conflict with Russia’s support, made by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to President Vladimir Voronin, David Merkel said that as member of the talks in the 5+2 format, the U.S. pays special attention to the Transnistrian conflict. “We think that the talks’ participants should now negotiate the status (of the breakaway region – e.n.). The discussions interrupted long ago should be resumed. We should sit at the table with a document whereby to solve the problem of the status.” As to the recognition by Russia of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, David Merkel reiterated that “the United States and the European Union consider the respect for Georgia’s territorial integrity as very important.” Asked about Ukraine’s position in the context of the crisis in Georgia, the U.S. official said: “Evidently, Ukraine is important for the United States and the European Union. We welcome the EU’s high level meeting with Ukraine set for September 9. We will meet Ukrainian officials within our bilateral group. It is a moment when the Ukrainian administration should act constructively and in unison, while the U.S. and the EU should give a clear sign that Ukraine has a future in the Euro-Atlantic organizations.” In the context of the Georgian conflict, David Merkel spoke about the United States’ strategy in the Black Sea zone. “The Black Sea is a very important region for the U.S.” This region, alongside the Caspian Sea region, “can become a precipice or a bridge between Europe and the European values on the one hand and between Europe and Central Asia and the extended Middle East on the other hand. The Black Sea was and remains a priority, while the United States continues to cooperate with the riverside states and other states of the region.” In particular, the U.S. considers that Romania and Bulgaria, as NATO states that host American military basis, should play an important role in this strategy. “Both of the states already play an important role in a number of areas such as trade and tourism in the region and in combating common threats like illegal trafficking in the Black Sea zone. There are many fields in which Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey can encourage cooperation between the riverside countries.” There are three NATO member states in the Black Sea region so that the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are interested in promoting stability in the zone. “The most important goal of the United States is to encourage cooperation between the countries of the region in order to solve the problems of common interest. The United States and NATO have interests in the Black Sea region. As regards Ukraine, which is also a riverside state, the United States considers that it should be offered the NATO Membership Action Plan in December. In the same connection, the official said that the U.S. “backs Georgia’s plans to join NATO. When it is about the Action Plan, the position of the United States is clear and unchanged, but it should be noted that this process is not identical to accession to NATO and we think that this process should be initiated in December,” the Deputy Assistant Secretary said.