Tiraspol will fall back after signing of Resolution on Moldova, expert

The administration of the Transnistrian region will make two steps back after the adoption of the OSCE Resolution on Moldova. The opinion was shared with Info-Prim Neo by Andrei Iovu, expert of the Institute of Public Policies (IPP). According to Andrei Iovu, one of the positive points in the Resolution concerns the replacement of the peacekeeping operations with an international civil mission under the OSCE mandate. Until now it has been talked about between negotiation partners, but nothing concrete was said. Another plus is the reconfirmation of the need for Russian troops to leave the Moldovan territory. The Resolution of 1999 wasn’t forgotten, but reiterated and Russia is reminded to continue and finish the withdrawal of its troops from the region. Meanwhile, Andrei Iovu is skeptical about the chances to implement the Resolution. “Russia didn’t sign the Resolution and it means it will be very difficult to apply it, especially in regard of the withdrawal of Russian troops from the region. Meanwhile, Tiraspol doesn’t even want to speak about establishing a legal status for the region, nor about the peacekeeping format or the withdrawal of Russian troops”, said the IPP expert. He noted the Resolution stressed the necessity to identify a legal status for the region within the Republic of Moldova. “If we are to speak about the efficiency of negotiations, when the talks about an official status begin, we’ll know we are nearing the settlement of this conflict. I think is the issue that has to be tackled in all possible negotiations and discussions”, said Andrei Iovu. According to him, the Resolution as a whole is a positive signal for Moldova, showing that Moldova’s international partners support its wish to settle the Transnistrian conflict. “The next step is negotiating with the Transnistrian side, but looking at the current state of relations, I doubt it will happen soon”, thinks the IPP expert. As regards the legal status of the Transistrian region, there were decisions about the democratization and demilitarization of the region adopted in 2005. “Currently, we have achieved none”, he stressed. Authorities stagnated in their efforts to strengthen the collaboration with the elected leaders of the region, says Iovu. The intention to collaborate was announced at the beginning of April, when they said a cooperation commission would be created, but it’s mid-July and that announcement wasn’t followed by any actions visible for the public. The Resolution regarding Moldova adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of OSCE demands the withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldovan territories, proposes that the peacekeeping mission is changed into a civil international one and that Transnistria is offered a special legal status within the Republic of Moldova. The Resolution wasn’t supported by Russia and Cyprus, which abstained from voting.