Pridnestrovie seeks consensus solution with Moldova

Tiraspol, the capital of Pridnestrovie, is one of the cities claimed by Moldova. It was founded in 1792 as a part of Russia

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - After a successful first meeting between Presidents Igor Smirnov (Pridnestrovie) and Vladimir Voronin (Moldova), regular encounters have now begun between cabinet members of the two sides and members of a number of ministerial working groups.

The PMR Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that Moldova and Pridnestrovie now plan on boosting the activity of the joint working groups to resolve a number of issues that have accumulated over recent years in the relations between the two.

During a meeting held in Pridnestrovie, in the Bender branch office of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe), ministers from both Chisinau and Tiraspol discussed joint working groups’ activity.

Representing Pridnestrovie, PMR Foreign Minister Valeri Litskai and his Deputy Sergei Simonenko met with Moldova's Vasili Sova and Ministry official Georgiy Balan. Although Pridnestrovie is still waiting for Moldova to keep its promises on lifting an EU-imposed travel ban, Moldovan state officials are now already allowed access to Pridnestrovie.

Fears of unequal treaty terms

The OSCE-supervised meeting in Bender focused on the issues of cooperation within the joint working groups in the social and economic, and humanitarian areas. The two sides discussed the main priorities of their activities for the sort term, PMR's Foreign Ministry said after the meeting.

Pridnestrovie seeks consensus and insisted during the negotiations that specific steps are now needed to creating an atmosphere conducive to constructive solutions.

It has proposed a Friendship and Co-operation Treaty with Moldova which would put the both sides at equal terms.
Throughout its negotiations with Moldova, Pridnestrovie has insisted on being treated as an equal. This has been a key point for Pridnestrovie and a sore point for Moldova.

Historically, Pridnestrovie - which was never a historical or ethnic part of Moldova - fears that its identity will be swallowed up and it will be reduced to a "vassal state" if it accepts a treaty on unequal terms.

The relationship between a more powerful state and its vassal, or tributary, has in more recent times often been defined by what is known as "unequal treaties" - treaties were the two signatories are not able to negotiate on equal terms.

Pridnestrovie's negotiators are seeking to avoid an unequal treaty. Historically, the term "unequal treaties" date back to the 19th and early 20th centuries when a number of Asian states were obligated to sign unfavorable treaties with the West at a time when they were largely unable to resist the military and economic pressures from these foreign powers.

Historically, unequal treaties fail

China and Great Britain signed the first unequal treaties under the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. Following Qing China's defeat, treaties with Britain opened up several ports to foreign trade, while also allowing Christians to reside. In addition, the administration of justice on foreign residents in the port cities were afforded trials by their own consular authorities rather than the Chinese legal system, a concept termed extraterritoriality.

China considered the treaties unequal since the foreign powers did not reciprocate most of China's concessions with similar privileges. In many cases China was effectively forced to pay large amounts of reparations, open up ports for trade, cede or lease territories (such as Hong Kong to Great Britain), and make various other concessions of sovereignty to foreign "spheres of influence", following defeats.

In 1854, the United States forced Japan to sign the humiliating Convention of Kanagawa and, four years later, the Ansei Treaties that were similar to the ones China had signed. The United States also imposed the Chemulpo Treaty on Korea in 1882, and in 1905 Korea was made to sign the Taft-Katsura Agreement, also under U.S. pressure.

In the long run, the use of unequal treaties were not beneficial to the West. They sowed resentment in both China and Japan and were the cause of endless regional instability. It soon became increasingly evident, even to Great Britain and the U.S., that they had to end. Japan was the first to throw off the shackles of its treaties during the mid 1890s. For China and Korea, another victim of unequal treaties, the wait took longer: Korea's unequal treaties with European states became largely null and void in 1910, while most of China's unequal treaties were abrogated during World War II, when China emerged victorious and became a permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations.

Position of Russia

Russia, which is considered by both sides to the conflict as the key to guaranteeing a successful agreement outcome, has repeatedly stated that the two sides have to meet and deal with each other on equal terms. This was repeated in April 2008 by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

On 25 April 2008 a press conference was held in which a leading Foreign Ministry representative, Valery Kenyaikin, explained Russia's position in greater detail. Valery Kenyaikin is the special representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia on the relations with the CIS countries and Moscow's Ambassador at Large.

" - We focus on making the conflict parties get into direct contacts with each other so that they could develop the major parameters or an agenda of the future agreements that will be then worked out by a broader “5+2” format (Russia and Ukraine as co-presidents, the USA and the EU as observers, the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe), Moldova and Transnistria)," said Valery Kenyaikin.

" - Recently, President of Moldova Vladimir Voronin has met President of Transnistria Igor Smirnov. The parties decided to maintain relations with each other subsequently. The negotiations are making difficult progress. The meeting between the Transnistrian and Moldovan Foreign Ministers was held with the participation of the OSCE in the Ukrainian city of Odessa. It is expected that some agreements will be reached. We have no hidden plans. We ask our “5+2” format partners to help the parties achieve at least preliminary working agreements."

See also:
» Moldova and Transdnestr meet for new talks on friendship, co-operation
» Transdniestria wants friendship and cooperation treaty with Moldova
» Transdniester Parliament seeks open dialogue with Moldova

On the web:
» Friendship treaty between Pridnestrovie and Moldova