The recently adopted Law on Separatism was discussed during this year’s first round of talks in the 1+1 format, which was held in the Transnistrian region.
“This was an attempt to tell us that this law will not be applied to the Transnistrians, but it was extremely unconvincing. In the end, the Moldovan representative could not even answer our questions”, Tiraspol’s chief negotiator Vitali Ignatiev told reporters. He quoted Moldovan intelligence as allegedly saying that “any representative of the Tiraspol administration could be subject to repression”.
“Today we are in Tiraspol and here we are safe. But the next meeting logically should take place in Chisinau. Who can guarantee that I, or other members of the negotiating delegation, will not be detained? I asked the political negotiator if he can give us any guarantee. He said he couldn’t guarantee it. And the OSCE cannot provide such guarantees either”, added Ignatiev.
For his part, Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian said that, from the point of view of the authorities in Chisinau, the Law on Separatism is not an obstacle in the negotiation process. “There were opinions voiced by journalists and political analysts in Tiraspol that this law can be a serious impediment. I emphasized once again at today’s meeting that, from our point of view, it cannot be an obstacle. I hope that our next meeting in Chisinau will take place under normal conditions”, said Oleg Serebrian.
Opening the meeting in Tiraspol, Serebrian said that last year was particularly complicated, but as far as the negotiations between Chisinau and Tiraspol go, it was a successful one. Despite the dangerous situation in the region, stability and peace were preserved on both banks of the Nistru, and this is the merit of all participants in the negotiations.
The deputy prime minister added that in the process of negotiations, it was possible to overcome some complex problems, on which the quality of life of the citizens depended. Among them is the one related to the supply of gas and electricity. Also, the activity of factories and plants was ensured, exports and imports were ensured. Many problems still remain unsolved. Some will remain so as long as the political solution regarding the status of the Transnistrian region is not identified. The authorities in Chisinau are inclined to continue the negotiations, added Oleg Serebrian.
