UE and SUA might suspend €1.1b aid package for Moldova

A negative scenario of the Transnistria settlement could harm a €1.1 billion 2007 to 2010 EU and US aid package for Moldova, a European official was quoted by EUobserver as saying. This statement is linked to the reports of an overly pro-Russian settlement plan for Transnistria. The official warned that if signed, the plan could spark internal opposition to Moldova President Vladimir Voronin, who could react with a crackdown, further undermining his credentials as a pro-democracy reformist. Another senior diplomat from the 5+2 group told EUobserver he has seen a "document" which foresees powerful jobs for Transnistrian officials in a post-settlement Moldovan government. He said the document also leaves the door open for Russian soldiers to stay indefinitely, giving Moscow de facto control of the country. On the other hand, Kalman Mizsei, EU special envoy to Moldova, said the 5+2 meetings could restart in late June. He explained that - according to Moldova's settlement ideas - Russia should ship out its ammunition dump in Transnistria in the four to six months after an agreement and that Russian soldiers should be replaced by an international monitoring mission by January 2009. Some weeks ago, both Moldovan and international media have reported of a secret settlement between Moldova and Russia on the 'frozen conflict' in Moldova's breakaway Transnistrian republic, but the Moldovan authorities dismissed them as rumours.