Transnistrian conflict contingent on Russo-Georgian conflict

The OSCE Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, didn't produce a special position on the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict because the issue was discussed in the context of other conflicts in the post-Soviet space, on which the participating states failed to agree. At the same time, there was a chance to include in the final documents some forward looking statements about the Transnistrian conflict, stated Kalman Mizsei, EU Special Representative for Moldova, in an interview with Info-Prim Neo {(see interview here)}. “Let me emphasize that the main stumbling block was not the Transnistrian conflict but another conflict, the legacy of the war in Georgia in 2008. Here the gap was too big to bridge it this time between the expectation of the Georgians and the Russians. We did have a chance to put in the text some good, forward looking statements about the Transnistrian conflict. Our position is very clear since we issued an interpretation statement of our own after the Summit. This emphasizes the importance to adhere to Moldova’s full sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also urged military reductions on the basis of agreed commitments of the member states. “The Transnistrian conflict thus remains a great opportunity – solving it would encourage the EU and its member states to deepen its strategic cooperation with the Russian Federation in this regard. An achievable win-win situation. It is also true that a Summit cannot achieve everything. We also asked our Moldovan friends to consider showing flexibility not in their major principles but in what a short Summit communiqué can do among 56 states for one country. It cannot solve all of a sudden all the problems”, said Kalman Mizsei The EU Special Representative praise the Moldovan authorities for the measures taken toward the settlement of the conflict over the last year. “The last year, during the period of the Filat government, very important strategic steps were taken: Mr. Filat opened up for a genuine dialogue with Mr. Smirnov. His government started important confidence building measures. His deputy prime minister, Mr. Osipov did a state-of-the-art job in implementing this policy and got a strong support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European integration. The reopening of the railways is just but one symbolic and visible side of this whole, serious process. As a result of better atmosphere, we are really very close to the reopening of the formal 5+2 negotiations. This is exactly that President Medvedev pledged in Deauville thus I trust it will indeed happen. Our Transnistrian interlocutors also agree with this. We need there also an Action Plan soon”, he said. “As to the role of the different participants of the only legitimate 5+2 format, we are all equals but with different, asymmetric roles, interests, etc. We all are important for a lasting, effective peace settlement. Particularly important is to continue the good dialogue and deepen it between Chisinau and Tiraspol. This is not equating their situations: international law is clear about this. But the dialogue will have to continue in the atmosphere of mutual respect and deepening trust. Thus 2011 may be an important year here.”, stated Kalman Mizsei. According to him, the OSCE Summit, which took place during December 1-2 in Astana, was the first after 11 years and as such it is important that it took place. “It also produced a final document that emphasizes values that are close to our hearts – the values of human rights and human dignity. I think the European Union is going to be able to use this achievement of an act of consensus to promote a more operational implementation of those values in the practice of OSCE member states. (...) Where we failed is the operationalization of these principles in the Action Plan. This has not been adopted in spite of the huge efforts that the EU has put into this. We expected more support to this from all sides. But life is not stopping, the Lithuanian Chairmanship with an excellent OSCE staff in Vienna will continue the efforts in this direction. We MUST operationalize those wonderful words so that they do not remain just words”, stated EU Special Representative Kalman Mizsei in the interview given to Info-Prim Neo.