New face set to replace Transnistria's Foreign Minister

Transnistria's Foreign Minister Valeri Litskai (shown) will be replaced by Vladislav Yastrebchyak, says an analyst

ODESSA (Special to Tiraspol Times) - For a number of years, the foreign policy arena of Pridnestrovie (Transnistria) has been managed as a monopoly in the hands of a single person, who in the eyes of many insiders have long ago abused his right to determine the results of Transnistria's foreign affairs.

But can we talk about results without first doing any of the necessary preliminary groundwork? The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Transnistria, Valeri Litskai, has an answer for that. A talented speaker, shrewd psychologist and political player, he knows the effect that well crafted and convincing words can have. One doesn’t need to teach him how to bluff: Over the past decade, during numerous interviews to the local press, he has chosen to self-interpret a continued string of failures as a series of victories and triumphs. Local journalists are used to Litskai's lengthy, exhausting press conferences and loud reports announcing the results of this or that infrequent visit or meeting.

Transnistria's executive branch still puts some trust in his inspiring and often epic speeches, but the results - in closer ties and better relations with the rest of the world - are not seen anywhere. Meanwhile, Transnistria stays isolated, shunned and stuck in political stagnation. The population, which has shown itself to be strongly in favor of freedom and independence, grows impatient - and meanwhile, as one employee noted, "Litskai's biggest problem seems to be if he still has any space left on his chest for yet another new medal."

Now, reports from the PMR Ministry of Foreign Affairs are that Valeri Litskai is leaving for another vacation. His own explanation is that he needs some rest, "just to regain strength for new ideas." Meanwhile, others believe that Litskai’s mind has been elsewhere for a long time now, and that he is no longer able to deliver creative new solutions to the issues facing the country as it completes its 18th year of de facto independence. Unfortunately, there are no one in his Ministry to say: Hey, the King is naked!

Lack of results

Litskai is an aging political figure of Transnistrian foreign policy. Judging by his results alone, many say that he is largely ineffective. But for some, he plays a quite convenient role: His passive figure has been actively used by foreign countries who, for one reason or another, are opposed to the full realization of Transnistria's independence de jure.

Among Transnistria's ministers, Valeri Litskai is seen as an advocate for enhanced relations with the West. A year ago, thanks to Valeri Litskai’s efforts, Transnistria rejected the idea of integration with Russia. Not even the events unfolding around Kosovo, which were used pro-actively by Abkhazia and South Ossetia, have changed Litskai's approach. Rather, the lack of action from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - which limited itself to a single press release and no formal diplomatic initiatives - proved that Transnistria's foreign policy is stuck in a rut.

In a sign of the Foreign Ministry's irrelevance, Transnistria's top leadership now holds practically all major international meetings without Litskai’s participation. His chair next to the President’s is empty. This, together with the international community’s increased active efforts in the region, is seen by most in Transnistria as a signal that Litskai is about to be replaced.

Young lawyer and diplomat as replacement

The man who is most likely to take over Litskai's job as Foreign Minister is a representative of the younger, Transnistrian-born generation. Bringing fresh blood and new initiative to the post of Foreign Minister, the new face of the unrecognized country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is named Vladimir Yastrebchak, 28, and currently First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Two years ago, at the age of just 26, the young lawyer and diplomat was named Minister-Counselor. Although largely unknown to the public, Yastrebchak has acted behind the scenes and primed himself for his new job: Well-informed sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs say that for many years, Vladimir Yastrebchak accompanied Foreign Minister Valeri Litskai on nearly all his trips abroad.

People that personally know him are positive in their evaluations of the future Foreign Minister. They note that Yastrebchak is a workaholic and extremely ambitious. As First Deputy Minister, he was made Litskai's second-in-command last year. He has close connections to a variety of often-conflicting parts of Transnistria's government sector and private sector: Colleagues are said to have noted his close ties to both Transnistria's Ministry for State Security (MGB) and loyalty to a new, emerging state governing body, the Security Council. At the same time, albeit without revealing his contacts, Yabstrebchyak also enjoys the support of Transnistria's influential “Sheriff” corporation, owner of the main private TV station in Transnistria and the leading economic force in Pridnestrovie. While his past ties to the security services guarantee independence from his boss, Valeri Litskai, his current ties to the Sheriff group also put him in good standing with the largest party, the reform oriented and pro-business Renewal party.

For outsiders, it is not hard to see that Yastrebchak is already visibly taking over from Litskai in almost all practical aspects: A quick glance at at the official website of Transnistria's MFA, www.mfa-pmr.org, confirms that nearly all significant meetings are now conducted by Vladimir Yastrebchak.

Fresh blood with young, new team in place

The new situation has already brought some real changes within the Foreign Ministry itself. A group of young specialists has been employed, none of whom have previous ties to Valeri Litskai and can not be tainted with the corruption allegations that surround him.

As an emerging leader, Vladimir Yastrebchak prefers to have his own team, and he has hurried to create it. He is already firmly in control of the most important point of Transnistria's external presence, its Representative Office in Moscow, and the heads of main departments within the Ministry have also been substituted by people personally loyal to him. As a result, Transnistria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now in a position to gradually increase its activeness.

Earlier, some in the West, for instance diplomats in the British Foreign Office, felt that Litskai was the only Transnistrian minister that could be counted on. Even so, Western partners have been disappointed by his inclination to sudden mood shifts and the resulting changes in the direction of his foreign policy. Today, diplomats in the West conclude that Valeri Litskai is no longer capable of fulfilling long-term agreements.

Retirement in Spain

Litskai, who was not born in Transnistria and came to Tiraspol after leaving a job in Chisinau, Moldova, is ready to pack his bags and leave Tiraspol as long as he is assured of continued financial stability. A Spanish publication has already speculated that he will soon be sunning himself of the shores of their country: The villa on the Spanish coast near the city of Valencia is today no longer Valeri Litskai's distant dream. It is currently waiting for its owner to take up permanent residence.

If he does, Litskai will have probably made the right choice. But time appears to be running out, and Litskai needs some time for an organized withdrawal from his various business entanglements. Meanwhile, young and ambitious Vladimir Yastrebchak is eager to take over and Transnistrians as a whole have shown that they can't wait for a more active and assertive foreign policy to begin: In the most recent referendum, 97% of the voters supported independence and opinion polls routinely show that the lack of international recognition is ranked as one of the country's most pressing problems.

Now, in government offices, the name of Vladimir Yastrebchak is on the list as future Foreign Minister. If all goes as expected, it is likely that Western and Russian diplomats alike will prefer to deal with a predictable and active young minister rather than with Litskai's dated Soviet-style approach to diplomacy. The government, starting with President Igor Smirnov, is aware of these changing priorities of its international partners. Following Kosovo's partial recognition, the President’s first foreign trip to Moscow for the Russian Parliament’s hearings on recognition of unrecognized states took place without Litskai's participation. Instead, Smirnov was - once again - accompanied by Vladimir Yastrebchak as the main representative for foreign affairs. One year after the beginning of a crisis in Transnistrian foreign policy, the unrecognized country is now about to balance the situation with a new face in charge.

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