OSCE: No Moldova - Transdniestria settlement possible unless both agree

Visiting Tiraspol, OSCE-head Miguel Angel Moratinos says that both sides have to agree to Transdniestria's future status

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - Visiting Tiraspol Monday, the Miguel Angel Moratinos, OSCE chairman-in-office and Spanish Foreign Minister, said that any final status settlement for Transdniestria must be based on principles which are acceptable to both sides in the territorial conflict.

Moratinos, who is the current head of the 56 member state Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), met with President Igor Smirnov and Foreign Minister Valery Litskai during an official visit to the capital of Transdniestria (officially Pridnestrovie, as per its constitution).

" - The countries who participate as mediators and guarantors in the status talks over the Moldova-Transdniestria conflict must apply principles and elements which are acceptable to both sides of the conflict," announced Moratinos in Tiraspol after meeting with democratically elected PMR President Igor Smirnov.

" - My role is to listen and to contribute to the renewal of negotiations process, and to work for a peaceful political resolution of this issue," he added.

Talks between mediators and observers in Vienna

On Thursday the OSCE will be hosting a discussion over Transdniestria in its headquarters in Vienna. OSCE as mediator will be present, along with Russia and Ukraine as guarantor countries and representatives from the United States and the European Union with observer status. This format is referred to as the "3+2" format, in contrast to the normal "5+2" format which has so far dominated the talks.

The two main parties to the conflict will not be present at the talks, meaning that the "5" now becomes "3". The other "+2" refers to the US and the EU, which partake in the talks merely as observers with no direct role or influence over the outcome.

" - It is a shame that Moldova and Transnistria won't be in Vienna on Thursday," said an OSCE staffer, speaking off the record. She admitted that the 5+2 format for the talks broke down when Moldova unilaterally abandoned the talks in February of 2006.

Subsequently, Moldova attempted to force the outcome by applying economic measures against Transndniestria which amounted to a blockade. But after losses so far of more than $700 million for PMR companies, it is now clear that Transdniestria will not give in to economic pressure. Transdniestria demands that Moldova seizes its economic pressure and respects a series of previously signed agreements which give Transdniestria the right to free trade. Until Moldova respects its previous commitments, there is little hope that talks can be restarted between the two sides under the previous format, according to statements made by Foreign Minister Litskai.

During his official visit to Tiraspol to meet with the elected authorities of the 'de facto' independent republic, the Spanish Foreign Minister noted that he was well received by the government and that he enjoyed his first-ever visit to the area. He stressed the need for a peaceful settlement of the dispute, and ruled out any return to the 1992 situation where Moldova launched an unprovoked attack against Transdniestria and caused a war which led to more than 1,000 dead.

To avoid a return to military action by Moldova, and new bloodshed over the territorial conflict, the OSCE Chairman-in-office urged the parties to resume talks in the 5+2 format. In the meantime, the OSCE will host talks in Vienna on 11 October in the 3+2 format (mediators and observers, but without the two sides to the conflict being present).

See also:
» Spanish Foreign Minister, head of OSCE, in talks with Tiraspol government
» For Transdnister, status settlement talks with Moldova will be about independence

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