Kalman Mizsei: Situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia should be no precedent for Transnistria

The situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia should be no precedent for Transnistria, because the question is about breeching a number of principles related to international relations, the EU's special representative to Moldova, Kalman Mizsei, said on Tuesday. He has made that statement after meeting leaders of the Moldovan parliament's factions, to whom he has explained the EU's position as to the situation in Georgia and the decisions made by the EU summit on September 1. According to Kalman Mizsei, the Transnistrian conflict has its own peculiarity. The EU representative hopes the dialog in the 5+2 format will go on, mentioning that talks in the 3+2 format will take place in Vienna on September 8. “Our principles of settling the conflict have not changed and we believe them to be the only democratic principles. In Transnistria, there are no objects for a conflict and that is why we hope all the partners will do their best and Russia will show constructiveness to solve the issue,” Kalman Mizsei said. The European official has appreciated the proposal of the Moldovan authorities to settle the issue on the basis of the set of documents as a good start for the process, which allows to start the final talks in the 5+2 format. Mizsei also says the draft law on the status of the Transnistrian autonomy is a serious document which can lie at basis of the Transnistrian settlement. He has said the EU and the Venice Commission got familiar with the document, but refrained from unveiling details about the contents of the draft. Instead, Mizsei has remarked that the Kozak Memo has many serious problems, which will hinder the EU to recognize the settlement of the conflict on the basis of that document. The Moldova Noastra Alliance leader, Serafim Urecheanu, has stated it is very important for Moldova now not to waste time and to find a favorable model to settle the Transnistrian conflict. “It's a favorable situation and Russia will be impelled by the international community to find another pattern to settle the conflict,” he told journalists. The Democratic leader Dumitru Diacov has stated Moldova should use the context created after the conflict in Georgia. For that purpose, Moldova stage democratic, free elections, so that the new Government has credibility in Europe's eyes. “It's obvious nothing is going to happen in the solution till the elections. To haste and do something for the country is impossible,” he said. According to the Christian Democratic faction leader, Vlad Cubreacov, at the talks among the factions and the EU representative, the sides have agreed there can be no parallel between Transnistria and South Ossetia. “We have agreed the solution of the this conflict can be done only by consensus in the Moldovan Parliament, as the Law on the principles of settling the Transnistrian conflict was adopted in 2005. It first and foremost provides for unconditionally retreating the Russia military from the territory of the Transnistrian area. Only after that, through a local referendum, the area to get autonomy will shape. We will not accept any pressure from the Russian Federation,” Cubreacov said. The Communists' faction leader, Eugenia Ostapciuc, has not attended the reunion with Kalman Mizsei. The Parliament's press unit explains she has had an emergency. The EU summit condemned the Russian recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, on September 1. The EU leaders also established a term for the dialog between the EU and Russia. The Russian Federation, Georgia and South Ossetia accepted EU peace-keepers and observers in the conflict area.