Newsroom
OSCE Mission regrets lack of progress in negotiations on Transdniestria, Moldova
CHISINAU 20 November 2000
CHISINAU, 20 November 2000 - The OSCE Mission to Moldova regrets that the negotiation process for a lasting settlement of the Transdniestrian problem has not made significant progress. Despite the sustained efforts of the Chairperson in Office, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, to give new impetus to the negotiation process, it has proved impossible to assemble representatives of the parties to the conflict and the three mediators to continue direct negotiations for a political settlement.
One year ago, on 19 November 1999, the heads of the OSCE participating States signed the Istanbul Declaration. Two paragraphs of this document are dedicated to Moldova. Paragraph 18, referring to the Kiev Summit of July 1999, welcomes steps recently taken in the process of the settlement of the Transdniestrian problem. Paragraph 19 welcomes recent progress in the removal and destruction of Russian military equipment and the commitment by the Russian Federation to complete withdrawal of Russian forces from the territory of Moldova by the end of the year 2002.
Little progress has been made on paragraph 19 of the Istanbul Declaration. The last shipment of Russian arms and military equipment left the Transdniestrian region of Moldova on 19 November 1999. The mandate of the OSCE Mission to Moldova was expanded after the Istanbul Summit and the OSCE Permanent Council established a fund for voluntary international financial assistance to support the withdrawal of Russian arms from the Transdniestrian region of Moldova. The Permanent Council authorized the Mission to ensure transparency in the removal and destruction of Russian armaments and ammunition and to coordinate financial and technical assistance offered to facilitate withdrawal and destruction. The OSCE Mission to Moldova regrets that although many financial and technical obstacles for the arms withdrawal have been removed, the withdrawal of arms has not resumed.
The Istanbul Declaration also took note of the positive role the joint peacekeeping forces have played in securing stability in the region. While it is understandable to praise the peacekeepers for their contribution in preventing renewal of the armed conflict, the sides and mediators also need to find ways to reduce the current unacceptable level of direct military confrontation between the former combatants and to build trust and confidence between them. The OSCE Mission to Moldova is concerned by the continuing inability of the Joint Control Commission to make progress on these issues, in particular the presence of unauthorized military units in the Security Zone. A possible OSCE mandate for a renewed peacekeeping operation would be one way of addressing these important security issues.
This lack of progress does not reflect a lack of activity or effort. There have been significant opportunities for progress over the past year, but it has not proved possible to seize these opportunities. The OSCE Mission to Moldova believes that the substantive differences between the sides - while unyielding and difficult - are by no means insurmountable. The Mission believes there are mutually acceptable solutions to the issues of a special status and delimitation of competencies, which address the legitimate aspirations for self-government of the population on the left bank in Moldova. At the same time, these possible solutions respect and preserve the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Moldova.
The OSCE Mission to Moldova believes the obstacles to progress can be overcome. We call on all involved in the process of seeking resolution of the conflict to manifest the political will needed to agree upon and implement measures which can surmount current obstacles and produce progress in building a secure and lasting settlement.
For more information, please contact OSCE Mission to Moldova, Matti Sidoroff, Public Relations Officer, tel. +373 2 240 069
One year ago, on 19 November 1999, the heads of the OSCE participating States signed the Istanbul Declaration. Two paragraphs of this document are dedicated to Moldova. Paragraph 18, referring to the Kiev Summit of July 1999, welcomes steps recently taken in the process of the settlement of the Transdniestrian problem. Paragraph 19 welcomes recent progress in the removal and destruction of Russian military equipment and the commitment by the Russian Federation to complete withdrawal of Russian forces from the territory of Moldova by the end of the year 2002.
Little progress has been made on paragraph 19 of the Istanbul Declaration. The last shipment of Russian arms and military equipment left the Transdniestrian region of Moldova on 19 November 1999. The mandate of the OSCE Mission to Moldova was expanded after the Istanbul Summit and the OSCE Permanent Council established a fund for voluntary international financial assistance to support the withdrawal of Russian arms from the Transdniestrian region of Moldova. The Permanent Council authorized the Mission to ensure transparency in the removal and destruction of Russian armaments and ammunition and to coordinate financial and technical assistance offered to facilitate withdrawal and destruction. The OSCE Mission to Moldova regrets that although many financial and technical obstacles for the arms withdrawal have been removed, the withdrawal of arms has not resumed.
The Istanbul Declaration also took note of the positive role the joint peacekeeping forces have played in securing stability in the region. While it is understandable to praise the peacekeepers for their contribution in preventing renewal of the armed conflict, the sides and mediators also need to find ways to reduce the current unacceptable level of direct military confrontation between the former combatants and to build trust and confidence between them. The OSCE Mission to Moldova is concerned by the continuing inability of the Joint Control Commission to make progress on these issues, in particular the presence of unauthorized military units in the Security Zone. A possible OSCE mandate for a renewed peacekeeping operation would be one way of addressing these important security issues.
This lack of progress does not reflect a lack of activity or effort. There have been significant opportunities for progress over the past year, but it has not proved possible to seize these opportunities. The OSCE Mission to Moldova believes that the substantive differences between the sides - while unyielding and difficult - are by no means insurmountable. The Mission believes there are mutually acceptable solutions to the issues of a special status and delimitation of competencies, which address the legitimate aspirations for self-government of the population on the left bank in Moldova. At the same time, these possible solutions respect and preserve the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Moldova.
The OSCE Mission to Moldova believes the obstacles to progress can be overcome. We call on all involved in the process of seeking resolution of the conflict to manifest the political will needed to agree upon and implement measures which can surmount current obstacles and produce progress in building a secure and lasting settlement.
For more information, please contact OSCE Mission to Moldova, Matti Sidoroff, Public Relations Officer, tel. +373 2 240 069