Veronica Abramciuc: It is impossible to set, even preliminarily, legal terms for solving the Transnistrian dispute. Info-Prim Neo survey

Info-Prim Neo News Agency has launched an opinion poll on the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict among leaders of political parties, representatives of the civil society, and opinion shapers from both banks of the Nistru. The survey is aimed at finding out viewpoints that could contribute to the improvement of the present situation. All the participants were asked the same two questions. This time, the answers are given by Veronica Abramciuc, the president of the Socialists’ Party of Moldova “Patria-Rodina”. [ - How can the Transnistrian dispute be solved in your opinion? In what way, through what mechanisms and during what terms is a settlement possible?] - We must take into account that after the United States and the EU recognized the independence of Kosovo, the problem of Moldova’s territorial integrity (as well as Georgia’s and Azerbaijan’s) became more complicated. There is only one way out in the given circumstances: to reestablish the confidence between the sides by reconfirming the viability of the basic documents coordinated and signed during the negotiating process and by reestablishing the mutually advantageous economic relations between the two banks of the Nistru destroyed in the last years. It is impossible to set, even preliminarily, legal terms during which the Transnistrian conflict can be solved as the dispute ca be settled only by stages. [ - How do you think, how efficient and relevant to the created situation are the steps taken by the administration of Moldova at present? When do you think the effort made by the authorities will begin to produce results and what results we can expect?] - The measures taken lately by the authorities are for the most part appropriate to the created situation because they are aimed at reestablishing the trust between the sides involved in the conflict. At the same time, it is too early to speak about their efficiency. The administration of the country made the first steps in the right direction. Until the next parliamentary elections in the best case, the situation in a number of areas can improve. These areas are: - infrastructure (activity of Moldova’s Railway, reestablishment of the bridges and their utilization, joint promotion of energy-related projects, joint development of communication means, improvement of the condition of roads, etc.); - free movement of the goods, people and money; - limitation of the activity of the law enforcement and control bodies representing the two sides in the security zone; -joint mass media activities on the two banks of the Nistru. The problem can be solved by compromise and the resolution will depend first of all on Chisinau’s position that will result from the political configuration of the future legislature. As to Transnistria’s special legal status, it is evident that such a status can be granted only after reestablishing the mutually advantageous economic relations, meaning after restoring the confidence between the parties.