Chisinau’s activity for Transnistrian settlement within negotiations is not enough – political analyst Nicolae Chirtoaca

The failure of the ordinary round of five-plus-two negotiations was expected, according to political analyst Nicolae Chirtoaca. He has stated to Info-Prim Neo that Chisinau must take actions in other directions as well in order to settle the Transnistrian conflict. „The negotiations are in a bed condition in the chess terminology, when the move of every participant could create a risky situation for king,” Chirtoaca said. According to Chirtoaca, three big sides participate in the negotiation format indeed: Moldova, which holds the right to indivisibility and inviolability of its territory; the West, whose stance is closer to Chisinau’s standpoint, but it does not correspond completely; and the Russian Federation with Transnistria, which promote common and well-synchronised interests. According to the analyst, Ukraine is hesitating and cannot play a constructive and positive role because it faces a political crisis before parliamentary elections, which depends again on Moscow. The role of the OSCE Mission was limited to the one of organiser of negotiations and functions of good offices after the European Union and the United States have joined the settlement process. The February 27-28 negotiation round demonstrated that nor the „tactic of little steps,” promoted at the joint initiative of mediators after the change of the format, has proved visible results, he noted. Chirtoaca considers that the activity of Chisinau regarding the Transnistrian settlement is insufficient within negotiations. He noted that additional efforts are needed, other mechanisms and levers should be identified to influence the big chancelleries as regards the Transnistrian settlement in strict compliance with the national interests of Moldova and by taking into account the civilised and European norms of settlement of conflict situations. Moldova has arrears in this regard, the analyst underlined. He stressed that the international conjuncture would favour additional efforts within some regional commitments such as GUAM and especially the Stability Pact for South East Europe, which provides the possibility of a deeper cooperation with the U.S., to mobilise partner countries in a move to influence Russia concerning its stance on the Transnistrian crisis in particular and frozen conflicts in the post-Soviet area in general. Also, analyst Chirtoaca noted that Moldova will receive all the support that it expects from the West, with the condition that the acting leadership demonstrates that it is aware of situation on international arena, combines intransigence with flexibility and constructive relations with main partners at negotiations. The participants in the latest round of negotiations that took place in Chisinau and Tiraspol on February 27-28 failed to sign a joint protocol. According to the head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova William Hill, the problem of the Dorotcaia village was the main cause why a protocol was not signed. Reintegration Minister Vasilii Sova asked the sides to continue the 4th round of negotiations on March 7.