EU wants to be full-right participant in Transnistria settlement negotiations
The European Union wishes all the parties in the 5+2 format negotiations [currently: Moldova and Transnistria are the conflicting sides, Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE are the international mediators and guarantors; and the European Union and the United States are the observers] to be equal-right participants, the EU Special Representative for the Republic of Moldova, Kalman Mizsei, stated in his interview with the "Kommersant Ukraini" newspaper.
The diplomat said that the Republic of Moldova is also insisting on equipping the EU and the USA with the status of international mediators, like are Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE, "and if there is a consensus (I think there will be one), then such changes shall take place".
However, the EU Representative is against including Romania or Germany into the format because they are European Union member states, fully trust the EU negotiation team, and support the idea of changing the European Union's current status of a participant in negotiations.
In his words, the European Union supports Germany's opinion that it is necessary to withdraw the Russian peacekeepers from Transnistria.
"Moldova is a neutral state. In a neutral state, there may be no foreign military bases. Therefore, the problem of the presence of the Russian peacekeepers has to be resolved. The Transnistrian conflict has a history of its own, and the participation of peacekeeper forces in it has a history of their own, too. But the negotiation participants should understand that the situation is changing. Today we should think of resolving the conflict with an account of the interests of all sides and the Republic of Moldova's neutrality. Chisinau expects that upon resolving the conflict, there will be no foreign troops in the territory of the country", said Kalman Mizsei.
He is harboring a big hope for the OSCE Summit to be held in Astana (Kazakhstan) on December 1-2, which he believes has a good potential for settling protracted conflicts, "so I think 2011 will be a year of progress in the Transnistria settlement process".
The EU diplomat stands for a maximum-possible economic autonomy, but within the framework of a unified state - the Republic of Moldova, and "if it is important for Tiraspol to have the Transnistrian segment of the border with Ukraine be controlled by Transnistrian customs officers, this question can be negotiated".
Kalman Mizsei is sure the Republic of Moldova is going to have really democratic elections on November 28, for "the lack of democracy would bring much more problems to Chisinau than a democracy with temporary problems".
He pointed out that "very healthy processes" have been taking place between Moldova and Transnistria lately, and that "we have proved that isolation of Transnistria is not a good choice, and the Moldovan government has supported this. This is already bringing fruits, and will be bringing more in the future".
Kalman Mizsei is not sure that the country reintegration is particularly wished by Transnistria residents, "but there exists international law, and the Transnistrian problem has to be tackled in strict accordance with it".
Infotag
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