Moldova stalls diplomatic accreditation in tit-for-tat payback

Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin had to complain to Moldova's Ambassador over the stalling of Astakhov's "work permit"

CHISINAU (Tiraspol Times) - Three years ago, Oleg Astakhov mediated between Moldova and Pridnestrovie, helping both sides live up to their responsibilities acquired under a 1992 joint ceasefire agreement. At times, the work involved saying "no" to excessive demands from the Moldovan delegation. Now, in return, it appears as if Moldova is saying "no" to him.

Moldovan authorities are dragging out the accreditation of counselor Oleg Astakhov in his new job as deputy head of the Russian diplomatic mission. Astakhov asked for accreditation five months ago but has not received any, an embassy source said on Tuesday.

Russian State Secretary and Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin expressed concern about Astakhov’s situation at a Monday meeting with Moldovan Ambassador in Moscow Vasile Sturza, a ministry source said.

“ - The Moldovan ambassador was told that Moscow is concerned about the delayed accreditation of Russian diplomats in Chisinau,” he said.

“ - Moldova has not given any explanation to the red tape. Moscow has an impression that the embassy has encountered an unfriendly attitude, which prevents personnel from fully performing their duties,” Astakhov told Itar-Tass on Tuesday. “This is incomprehensible against the background of the dynamic development of bilateral relations.”

Sotto voce, however, everyone is aware of what is going on. Astakhov worked for the Russian embassy in Moldova until 2004 and led the Russian delegation to the Joint Control Commission supervising the peacekeeping operation in Pridnestrovie, also known abroad under names such as Transdniester and Transdniestria. "You helped Transdnestr in 2004, now it is payback time" is the message. This displays a continuation of the confrontational attitude taken by Moldova towards anyone who sides with the elected authorities of the left bank of the Dniester - an area which is still hopes to incorporate within its national borders, but which it treats with contempt and rivalry instead of seeking dialogue and reconciliation.

Peacekeeping involvement a huge success

While Astakhov leading the Russian delegation to the Joint Control Commission supervising the peacekeeping operation in Pridnestrovie, the so-called "School Crisis" was flaring up and putting both sides on high alert. Thanks to deft diplomacy and mediation efforts, the situation was defused and not a single shot was fired. The JCC takes all decisions by consensus and has been deemed a huge success by impartial conflict resolution specialists.

After leaving the JCC, the diplomat then worked at his Foreign Ministry’s central office for two years, and due to his knowledge of the area was sent back to Chisinau, Moldova's capital, in 2006.

Moldova, officially Europe's poorest country, has a Communist-led government and one of the worst human rights records on the continent. In 1992 Moldova initiated a military conflict by sending troops over the Dniester river in an attempt to enforce its territorial claim over Pridnestrovie. Fighting ended with the signing of a ceasefire agreement which established a multinational Joint Control Commission (JCC) to ensure safety in the region. The troops in the JCC are provided in roughly equal numbers by Moldova (403 men), Pridnestrovie (411 men) and Russia, with the Russian presence being a bit smaller than that of the other two (385 men). In addition, Ukraine participates with a limited number of soldiers under an observer status.

Since 1992, the peacekeeping operation has been succesful in preventing any flare-up of the armed conflict. Not a single peacekeeper has lost his life in the past 14 years, causing the mission in Pridnestrovie to be highlighted as an example of one of the world's more successful and effective peacemaking operations.

As per the 1992 agreement with Moldova, which was co-signed by Pridnestrovie's President Igor Smirnov, Russia has a right to keep 2,400 troops in the region. However, today the number of Russian troops has been reduced to just 1,500. Approximately 700 of them are assigning to peacekeeping duties, with between 349 to 360 of those assigned to active duty in the buffer zone at any given time.

The remaining 800 troops are present in Pridnestrovie in order to guard and dismantle an old Soviet-era ammunitions dump in Kolbasna, northern PMR. (With information from Itar-Tass)

See also:
» OSCE praises work of peacekeepers despite its alleged "pro-Moldova" bias