Independent experts suggest Moscow and Chisinau to solicit an EU Police contingent in the Transnistrian region

The European Union should conclude an agreement with Russia and Moldova by means of which the parties involved in the conflict, Moscow and Chisinau, would ask to post a police contingent which would ensure security in the Transnistrian region. This is the conclusion of an independent report concerning the two-year results of the Action Plan Moldova-EU within the European Neighbourhood Policy. According to the report, such a document would replace the 1992 ceasefire Moldova-Russia Agreement, by means of which the Joint Control Commission and Security Zone were established and the “peacekeeping” troops were introduced. Along with the introduction of the EU contingent, Russia should withdraw its troops and armament according to the decision of the Istanbul Summit. According to the same sources, once the police contingent will be posted, EU will establish the interim administration of the region for a transitory period, following the model of the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Civil Administration of EU will ensure the administrative work and rule of law in the region. The authors of the report consider that EU should strengthen its initial success and adhere, together with USA, to the mediation process as full-right members. At the same time EU should include the Transnistrian issue in the bilateral agenda with Russia, which holds the political and economic control in the region. The European Commission, as well as the EU Presidency should be more transparent and make public the results of the consultations with Moscow in what concerns Moldova, in order to prove responsibility and full engagement. “It would be extremely useful if EU influences Ukraine to apply the travel interdictions for the Transnistrian leader, as well as the interdictions to have accounts in Ukrainian banks”, the report mentions. The report was worked out by the representatives of 13 organisations, within the “Euroforum” framework for cooperation and consultations, initiated by the European Initiatives Project of Soros-Moldova Foundation.