The Russian Federation wants to have a say in the putting into practice of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the EU in Transnistria given that the Transnistrian administration will have to accept a number of commitments that Moldova assumed by this accord, executive director of the Foreign Policy Association (APE) Victor Chirila said in a press club meeting at IPN.
In the meeting, Victor Chirila made public the proposals put forward by Russia for normalizing the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 format. As regards the proposal to work out a document that would contain guarantees for the implementation of the accords signed in the 5+2 format, the expert said the emphasis is placed incorrectly. “The 5+2 format is inefficient not because of the lack of the guarantees invoked by the Russian Federation, but because of the refusal of Russia and the Transnistrian administration to open consultations on all the three ‘baskets’ of problems, including the political one,” stated Victor Chirila.
Russia should also not take actions that would deteriorate the economic and social situation of the sides involved in the 5+2 format. “We should not forget that the consultations in the 5+2 format were suspended in connection with the signing by the Republic of Moldova of the Association Agreement with the European Union and the Russian Federation now exerts increasing political and economic pressure with the aim of making the Republic of Moldova to review its position on this accord. This is a measure that damages the climate of the dialogue between Chisinau and Tiraspol,” stated the expert.
According to him, Russia’s proposal to institute a moratorium on the starting of criminal cases is anticonstitutional. “This moratorium will be against Article 20 of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova as any citizen can go to the national courts to seek justice, no matter what moratorium Chisinau and Tiraspol announce,” said Victor Chirila.
The expert considers the Republic of Moldova has a bigger interest in integrating the Transnistrian region into its political and legal spheres, but this does not mean that it should accept compromises at any cost. “As long as there is no consensus between Chisinau and Tiraspol on the political direction we follow, the political compromises must be well thought out. They should not undermine the efficiency of the future state,” stated the APE executive director.
Victor Chirila noted that the consultations and negotiations in the 5+2 format would have many benefits if the United States of America and the European Union, which have an increasing influence in the Transnistrian region, played a political role that would match their economic interests and the assistance they offer to the region.
