Joint statement of Participants in the Kiev Meeting

07/16/99

JOINT STATEMENT
of Participants in the Kiev Meeting
on Issues of Normalisation of Relations
between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria President of Ukraine L.D. Kuchma, President of the Republic of Moldova P.C. Lucinschi, Head of Government of the Russian Federation S.V. Stepashin, leader of Transdniestria I.N. Smirnoff and representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office K. Eide express their satisfaction with the meeting that took place and allowed discussion of the state of the process of resolving of the Transdniestrian issue and to chart paths for eliminating the causes slowing down its progressive development. They noted that in the absence of historical, religious, national and other contradictions there are no objective obstructions to achievement of a political settlement of the problem.
 
This aim is facilitated by the explicit resolve of the parties to intensify negotiations on the elaboration of the status of Transdniestria on the basis of their own proposals, including the ones of 13 July 1999, as well as on the basis of proposals of the mediators, taking into account the initiatives put forward in the course of the present meeting.The parties have agreed to construct their relations on the following principles: common borders and common economic, legal, defence and social domains.
 
The leaders instructed the relevant bodies to prepare draft documents on the establishment of mechanisms to implement the above-mentioned provisions.
 
Ukraine and the Russian Federation, as guarantor states, as well as the OSCE, confirming their readiness to contribute in every possible way to the settlement, note that progress in this area is possible only under the condition that the parties manifest political will and an aspiration for reasonable compromises. Providing there is constructive cooperation of the parties with participation of the mediators there are real perspectives of finding a mutually acceptable formula for a final settlement and complete normalization of relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria.
 
The parties value highly the initiative of President of Ukraine L.D. Kuchma concerning the step-bystep settlement of relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria.
 
Participants in the Kiev meeting confirm their dedication to seek a solution of existing problems exclusively by political means. For the Republic of Moldova                           For Transdniestria
P. Lucinschi                                                    I. Smirnov
For Ukraine                          For the Russian Federation
L. Kuchma                                                    S. Stepashin
In the Presence of Representative of the OSCE
K. Eide
“16“ July 1999 Kiev