EU could be very generous in financing Moldova's reunification

“We will need to be very generous when it comes to finance (Moldova's) reunification, that needs to become a big success, elevating the whole country from the current state of poverty”, stated Kalman Mizsei, Special Representative of the European Union, when asked by Info-Prim Neo to estimate the prospects for the resolution of the Transnistrian conflict, in the context of the recent discussions at the OSCE Summit in Astana. Talking about the international component of the settlement process, Kalman Mizsei said it is important that there is a strong commonality of interests between the Russian Federation, Ukraine and European Union. “A balanced settlement will give a strong status to Transnistria within the Republic of Moldova. It will task, in my view, the actors of the 5+2 to help implement and oversee the agreement because rule-of-law remains project in the making in Moldova – here its European integration is a kind of guarantee. But I am sure we will have to work strongly with our Russian and Ukrainian colleagues as well as with the Americans to comfort the fears of all, including the Transnistrians in the implementation phase. We will also need to be very generous when it comes to finance the reunification that needs to become a big success, elevating the whole country from the current state of poverty. “A settlement should also see the current peacekeeping formation replaced by a civilian mission monitoring and helping reintegration on both sides of the Nistru”, said the EU Special Representative. Kalman Mizsei thinks that two crucial things need to be done domestically: stepping up confidence building, and a better organization and reinforced staffing of the work on reintegration. “Confidence building next year will have to become systematic and strong. All the confidence building working groups have to work well. This has been a governmental priority and will have to remain one. It has to be thus a priority of all working groups as well. They will have to produce real results to all inhabitants, including on the left bank. The process has only taken a modest start so far. Moldova has to organize itself even better. “It was a good step that the negotiator is a deputy Prime Minister but he has to be empowered which was not the case now. He or she will have to have the authority to strongly work with the branch ministries to help to implement governmental policies towards the Transnistrian conflict. This has not been the case now, this role needs to be institutionalized. The opposition criticised that with the creation of the deputy Prime Minister’s job, the Ministry as such was dissolved. I must say I agree with this criticism; the best would be to re-establish it but maintain the deputy Prime Minister title”, explained the EU Special Representative. In his opinion, in the Moldovan ministries responsibilities must be created on high enough level to take care of each ministry’s work towards confidence building and settlement. “The EU is sending many high level advisors but the reintegration office does not get any; this is a mistake that needs to be remedied. Both, the political and the project side needs advisors and it also needs strong staff reinforcement. The office works with a miniscule, tiny staff – this needs to change. These are all important issues if we want to have real results in 2011 and thereafter”, said Kalman Mizsei, EU Special Representative for Moldova, in his interview with Info-Prim Neo.