PAS MP Kiril Moțpan said the situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova is a constant source of risks to the state security and the citizens. According to the MP, the prospects of solving the dispute are uncertain even if the subject is present more than ever on the political agendas of the member states of the NATO and the EU and of the former Soviet states, IPN reports.
In a news conference, the MP said in Moldova there is no consensus yet on the events that happened on the Nistru in 1992 and on the current situation. The situation worsens due to the external pressure and to obscure interests of persons who are not interested in the settlement of the conflict. “Both the separatist segment and its supporters in Moscow will not allow any change in the current negotiation mechanisms and will simultaneously sabotage them, as they have done during several decades. Only the support from the West now that Sweden took over the presidency of the OSCE and a firm position of the authorities in Chisinau can help change something,” stated Kiril Moțpan. He noted he yet considers none of the two will be witnessed.
The MP believes the first thing that can be done by Chisinau is not to accept compromises. Secondly, the officials in Chisinau should formulate clear protests in relation to any violation of the existing agreements and ask for the investigation of the witnessed violations. The list of these violations is to be presented to the international observers. The fact that the given violations are not dealt with by the separatists will serve as a credible reason for changing the format of the peacekeeping mission, transferring it under an international civil mandate.
“Thirdly, Chisinau should harshly punish any pretention of Tiraspol to be given illegal “privileges”. Some of the actions to this effect were already adopted: the license of a firm that exported tobacco products to the Transnistrian region was withdrawn, contributing to diminishing smuggling in cigarettes this way. If other illegal economic channels of Tiraspol are also blocked, the separatist leaders will most probably stop their hypocritical games, while the absurd character of their demands will become evident,” stated the MP.
Fourthly, the police force in Chisinau should be offered the possibility to defend the citizens threatened by the separatist regime, first of all the police officers who work in the Transnistrian region that is controlled by the separatist authorities and their families that are very vulnerable. Last but not least, the international organizations should be involved to “balance” the OSCE’s tendency to represent the interests of Russia and to pursue a policy that would not anger the illegal Transnistrian authorities.
