The meeting between Voronin and Smirnov can prove to be first step in unfreezing Transnistrian question, says expert

The meeting between President Vladimir Voronin and the leader of the separatist regime Igor Smirnov can represent a first step to unfreeze the situation around the Transnistrian conflict, on condition certain rule games are observed, Radu Vrabie, a program coordinator at the NGO Foreign Policy Association has told Info-Prim Neo. The expert estimates that, judging from the communiqués and the information mirroring the meeting, it unfolded within a positive context, which can bring about certain reasons for optimism, if to take into account that the two have not met for 7 years. It is also worth mentioning that the meeting was welcomed by mediators and observers from the 5+2 format, what proves all the sides from within this format were interested in unblocking the current state of things. It’s encouraging they decided to clear out some issues the Moldovan citizens from the Nistru’s both banks confront with on a daily basis. At the same time, Radu Vrabie points out the big differences in mirroring the meeting by the media from Chisnau and Tiraspol. In this regard, Chisinau showed optimism, declaring the 5+2 talks will resume and the working groups will start working on the confidence-building measures proposed by President Voronin in October 2007 and that he will address the EU to lift the interdictions on the Transnistrian leaders’ movement. In its turn, Tiraspol was much more reserved, the only response being the cancellation of the ban on the movement within the area for the Moldovan leadership, and that under certain conditions, too. Smirnov also stated he insisted on “a equal dialog between the parties” and that namely that could lead to continuing the talks. From this point of view, especially taking into account the record of the historical relation between Chisinau and Tiraspol, Radu Vrabie advances certain reserves as to the will of the east bank administration to accept certain cessions at the negotiations. According to the expert, the fact that Transnistria’s leader accepted to meet proves once again that Russia has a tremendous influence over the Tiraspol regime, or, Russia repeatedly declared the solution of the conflict is possible only by the two parties meeting. Earlier Tiraspol, in its turn, used to say it did not want the reunification with Moldova, neither talks with Chisinau. However, in general, watching Russia’s external policy of President Putin’s second term, one can see Russia is reluctant to make cessions in the Transnistrian matter, the experts believes. “Although the history of the relationships between Chisinau and Tiraspol has known many promises non-respected, especially as regards Tiraspol, this meeting is a first important step in unfreezing the relationships between Moldova and the Tiraspol administration, and I hope, in the coming future, with the help foreign friends, a series of problems having appeared for the last period are going to be solved,” concludes Radu Vrabie, a program coordinator at the Chisinau-based Foreign Policy Association. Meanwhile, Chisinau must intensify its efforts to strengthen and creating new relationships, as transparent as possible, with the EU, USA, Ukraine, the expert has told Info-Prim Neo.