On 23 May 2006 in Moscow a working meeting was held between Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet of the Russian Federation A.D. Zhukov and President of Transdniestria I.N. Smirnov. 1. Discussion of cooperation in economic, scientific and technical, and cultural areas exposed understanding of importance of exercising by Transdniestria its right to independently establish and maintain international contacts in economic, scientific-technical and cultural areas laid down in the 8 May 1997 Memorandum on the Bases for Normalization of Relations Between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria.

In this context, the Russian side reaffirmed commitment of the Russian Federation as the guarantor-country and the mediator to continue its efforts aimed at lasting and comprehensive normalization of relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria. 2. Taking into account earlier agreements, in view of further development of traditional mutually beneficial economic ties, as well as building favorable environment for cooperation between business communities, the decision has been taken to:

- continue the commercial and economic cooperation through direct interaction between Russian and Transdniestrian economic agents on the basis of relevant contracts;

- ensure ownership protection for juridical and natural persons;

- promote contacts between constituent entities of the Russian Federation and Transdniestria in all areas of mutual interest;

- promote contacts in industry; energy sector, including power supplies; agriculture; construction; in transport, connections and telecommunication sector; technical regulations and conformity assessment; in environment protection and other areas. 3. The cooperation shall be carried out by means of:

- production cooperation;

- drawing investments, including those related to energy sector and telecommunications systems;

- involvement of Russian business in the privatization;

- design, construction and modernization of business facilities;

- rendering technical and consulting cervices; 

- exchange of specialists and technical personnel, training,  and advanced training of cadres;

- data exchange on customs and commercial documents, as well as certificates accompanying  cargoes;

- organizing and  holding exhibitions and trade fairs;

- consulting on tax, monetary, trade, customs, and tariff policies;

- consulting on legislative harmonization, legal framework improvement in foreign economic sphere and other areas of prime interest for Transdniestria, taking into account the CIS contractual legal framework;

- involvement in cargo and passenger transportation development;

- other forms of cooperation. 4. Adequate measures shall be taken to:

- promote effective development of payment and settlement relations in mutual trade of goods or services; 

- encourage in every possible way and develop contacts through the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and other business associations. 5. In humanitarian sphere the sides have decided to:

- strengthen cultural ties, encourage exchanges, including on the regional level, between creative collectives, organizations of men of letters and artists, to host art festivals and exhibitions;

- develop cooperation in educational, scientific, and technical spheres, as well as in training, and developing direct contacts between educational and scientific institutions;

- promote in every possible way cooperation in health care, social protection and basic pension security, as well as youth, sports, and tourist policies. 6. Pending lasting and comprehensive normalization of relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria, the Russian Federation as the mediator and the guarantor-country in the settlement process, aware of its responsibility for ensuring civil peace, interethnic harmony, maintaining socio-economic stability, observing human rights, and strengthening security in this region of Europe, has reaffirmed its readiness, in case of developments inhibiting Transdniestrian rights laid down in the 8 May 1997 Memorandum on the Bases for Normalization of Relations Between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria, to take practical steps to ensure implementation of provisions of the document, use mechanisms of consultations and to take measures needed to reestablish the mechanism of their implementation. 7. Russian federal executive authorities concerned and responsible Transdniestrian authorities shall conclude interagency agreements on cooperation. Vice-Chairman of the Russian Cabinet             President of Transdniestria             A.D. Zhukov                                                  I.N. Smirnov

On 27-28 February 2006, in the framework of the regular negotiation round on Pridnestrovien settlement, a meeting of the Permanent Conference on Political Issues was held in Chisinau and Tiraspol.
 
Along with political representatives from Pridnestrovie, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and OSCE, the meeting saw participation of US and EU representatives as observers.
 
On 28 February, in the afternoon, the Moldovan delegation left early the meeting room.
 
A final protocol was not signed due to the refusal of the Moldovan side to take part in further discussion of the agenda items.
 
A date for the next round has not been agreed.

December 15, 2005 – a regular round of the Pridnestrovien settlement negotiations started. Political representatives from Pridnestrovie, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the OSCE took part in the meeting of the Permanent Conference on Political Issues. The US and EU representatives attended as observers. The meeting continued on December 16 in the OSCE Mission Office in Chisinau. The meeting resulted in signing a protocol.



PROTOCOL

of the meeting of the “Permanent Conference on Political Issues
within the Framework of the Negotiating Process
on the Pridnestrovien Settlement”
(Tiraspol-Chisinau, 15-16 December 2005)



1. The OSCE Mission shall draft a Mandate for operation of the OSCE International Assessment Mission in Pridnestrovie to analyze the situation and elaborate recommendations for holding free and democratic elections to the Pridnestrovien Supreme Soviet in the context of the initiative of Ukrainian President V. Yushchenko and shall submit it for consideration during the next round of Pridnestrovien settlement negotiations. The participants of the meeting have expressed their willingness to consider such a draft.

 
2. The participants of the meeting have noted that the Republic of Moldova submitted by 1 December 2005 information on its military formations and armaments as envisaged in Protocol A-1 of the draft package “Arms Control – Confidence and Security Building Measures in Moldova” proposed to the sides by the mediators in July 2005, but Pridnestrovie submitted a letter with succinct information on the number of its troops and military equipment. The participants of the meeting have also appealed to the Russian Federation to provide guidelines to Pridnestrovie in compiling by 25 January 2006 information on military units and armaments as envisaged in Protocol A-1 of the abovementioned package.

 
3. The participants of the meeting have taken note of the sides’ appeal to the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to send, as soon as possible, a mission to conduct monitoring of enterprises of the Pridnestrovien military-industrial complex taking into account agreements embodied in the Protocol of the meeting of the “Permanent Conference on Political Issues within the Framework of the Negotiating Process on the Pridnestrovien Settlement” on 27-28 October 2005. The draft document envisaging regulations for operation of the Monitoring Mission shall be submitted to the sides by the OSCE Mission to Moldova by 20 January 2006.

 
4. The participants of the meeting have noted the need to normalize the situation in the Security Zone; the mediators and observers have recommended the relevant departments of the sides to take measures in order to implement by 25 January 2006 proposals set forth by the OSCE Mission to Moldova in the Annex to this Protocol, and have expressed willingness to assist in their implementation. Progress in implementing the abovementioned proposals shall be reviewed at the next negotiating round.

 
5. The sides and the mediators have agreed to hold the next meeting of the “Permanent Conference” with participation of the EU and US representatives as observers on 26-27 January 2006 in Tiraspol and Chisinau.

 

For the Republic of Moldova                                                                          For Pridnestrovie

 For the OSCE                                     For the Russian Federation                              For Ukraine

On 27 October 2005 in the Office of the OSCE Mission in Chisinau a round of the working meeting of the “Permanent Council” began, which saw participation of representatives from Pridnestrovie, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, OSCE, and EU and US observers, and continued on October 28 in the OSCE Mission Office in Tiraspol.The meeting resulted in signing a Protocol.

 

PROTOCOL

of the meeting of the “Permanent Council for Political Issues

within the Pridnestrovien Settlement Negotiation Process” 

(Chisinau-Tiraspol, 27-28 October 2005)


 
1. The participants of the meeting have welcomed the resumption of the meetings within the “Permanent Council for Political Issues within the Pridnestrovien Settlement Negotiation Process” with EU and US representatives as observers.

 
2. The sides, mediators and observers have addressed the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Foreign Minister of the Republic of Slovenia D. Rupel requesting to continue consultations to send an International Assessment Mission led by the OSCE to analyze the situation and make recommendations regarding free and democratic elections to the Supreme Soviet of PMR in the context of initiatives of Ukrainian President Yushchenko.

 
3. The participants of the meeting have noted the need to begin in the nearest future a work to agree on the documents of the package “Arms Control –Confidence and Security Building Measures in Moldova” presented to the sides by the mediators in July 2005.The mediators and observers have proposed to the sides by December 1, 2005 to exchange information on military units of Moldova and Pridnestrovie respectively, as well as on their armaments, as envisaged in “A-1” Protocol of the abovementioned package.

 
4. The sides, mediators and observers have called for the experts to continue their work on the draft protocol of monitoring of the military-industrial enterprises of Pridnestrovie, proceeding from the following parameters:

 
- overall period of the monitoring shall be 3-12 months, with possible repeated visits of the monitoring mission to the objects; 
 
- sides to the conflict shall be excluded from participation in the monitoring.

 
5. The sides and the mediators have agreed to hold the next meeting of the “Permanent Council” with participation of the EU and US representatives as observers on 15-16 December 2005 in Tiraspol and Chisinau.

 
For the Republic of Moldova                                                                          For Pridnestrovie

For OSCE                                          For the Russian Federation                  For Ukraine

STATEMENT
of observers at the meeting of the “Permanent Council for Political Issues
within the Pridnestrovien Settlement Negotiation Process” 
(Chisinau-Tiraspol, 27-28 October 2005)


 
The EU and US observers present at the meeting of the “Permanent Council for Political Issues within the Pridnestrovien Settlement Negotiation Process” have supported the Protocol of the meeting signed on 28 October 2005 in Tiraspol.

 
For the European Union                                                          For the United States of America

 
Enactment

On Adoption of the Foreign Policy Concept of
Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica
 
 
Pursuant to paragraph 3 Article 62 of the Constitution of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica and pursuant to Article 90 of the Regulations of the Supreme Soviet of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica, the Supreme Soviet of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica has enacted:   1. To adopt the Foreign Policy Concept of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica (as appended). 2. The enactment shall enter into force upon signature. 
Adopted at the 9th plenary sitting of the IX session of the Supreme Soviet of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica of the III convocation (May 26, 2005 Ruling 2241 of the Supreme Soviet of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica).
 
 
Foreign Policy Concept of

Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica
 
 
1. General  The Foreign Policy Concept of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica is a document establishing main goals and strategy of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica in its foreign policy, as well as mechanisms for its long-term implementation.   The Foreign Policy Concept of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica is based on provisions of the Constitution, regulatory state acts, and generally accepted principles and norms of international law. As an organic extension of the internal policy, the foreign policy of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica reflects consolidated interests of its multiethnic and multiconfessional population and aims at ensuring and defending its national sovereignty, as well as establishing favourable external conditions for economic and political reforms.   2. Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica in the modern world  Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica was founded on 2 September 1990. Proceeding from the fundamental principles of international law, Pridnestrovien people established its own state, thereby maintaining the legitimate right of nations to self-determination.   With the disintegration of the Soviet Union and cessation of activity of its legitimate organs of state power, as well as with the 1990 decision of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova to annul the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the establishment of the Moldavian SSR created through annexation of Bessarabia to the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was virtually recognized illegal. Thus, restoration of sovereignty and state status of the Moldavian ASSR was automatically recognized and, therefore, legitimacy of establishment of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica.   Expression of the Pridnestrovien people’s will at the 1 December 1991 referendum on independence of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica is the crucial factor for upholding the political and legal status of our state and its objective existence under international law.   Establishment of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica is a historically reasoned, juridically legitimate, and morally justified consequence of political and legal processes developing in the modern world.   Today Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica is a sovereign, independent, democratic, legal, and secular state. Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica has its own attributes of state power which are symbols of the Republic established by law.   The Pridnestrovien people recognizing itself as part of the international community, reaffirming its commitment to panhuman values, willing to live in peace and harmony with all nations, adopted the Constitution of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica through a referendum according to generally accepted principles and norms of international law.   Pridnestrovie seeks to become a full subject of international law and establishes its relations with other subjects of the international system on the basis of equal rights, cooperation, mutual respect, and partnership. Agreements between PMR and other states or state formations on possible establishment of joint organs of power and administration shall enter into force on the territory of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica only through a national referendum. Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica shall conduct its foreign economic activity on the basis of international law thereat taking into account dynamics of development and improvement of its fundamental principles and norms.   3. Foreign Policy Priorities  The modern world undergoes dynamical changes which affect interests of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica. The international situation in the early XXI century requires rethinking of the Pridnestrovien foreign policy and possibilities for its resources.   Ensuring national interests of the state shall be a conceptual pivotal point of the foreign policy of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica. The fundamental goal shapes its basic priorities as follows:   a) strengthening and defending  its independence and sovereignty; b) protection of human rights, freedoms, and dignity regardless of ethnicity; c) openness to equal and mutually advantageous relations with the states of the Near Abroad and other foreign countries; d) commitment to only peaceful, political and democratic, negotiating methods in the settlement of relations with the Republic of Moldova; e) ensuring favourable external conditions for social and economic reforms to progress in order to improve the people’s well-being.   National interests of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica shall be pursued primarily through establishment of friendly mutually advantageous relations with the adjoining states, leading powers, and integration associations of the international community.    Objectives of the Pridnestrovien foreign policy aimed at ensuring national interests shall be defined as follows:   a) enhancing stability and strengthening security in the region; b) developing good-neighborly relations with the adjoining states and  deepening of integration processes; c) strengthening  good-neighborly ties with states of the international community; d) one of the priorities is to pursue national interests through joining UNO; e) developing cooperation with international organizations, financial and economic institutions.   4. Foreign policy guidelines  Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica is interested in an increased number of its allies, in creation of an area of good neighborhood around itself, as well as in active use of international cooperation mechanisms to uphold its national interests since it is the crucial factor in strengthening positions of a state in the modern world.   4.1. Relations with the Republic of Moldova  The aim of the Pridnestrovien foreign policy is to enhance stability and strengthen security in the region. The need to settle relations and intention not to have the armed conflict repeated predetermined the start of negotiations with the Republic of Moldova two years after the end of the Moldovan military aggression against Pridnestrovie.   To this end, mediation on the part of Russia, Ukraine, and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as well as the peacekeeping mechanism aimed at prevention of a repeated conflict, has been used.   The position of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica in the negotiation process is based on the principles of a peaceful political settlement, equality of the sides, mutually agreed decisions, and renunciation of force or threat of force.   A specific model of state-legal relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova should take into account existing international peaceful settlement practices and be based on the results of a nation-wide referendum.   A comprehensive system and a mechanism of ensuring internal and external guaranties should be a sine qua non condition of implementation of a future model of state-legal relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. In this context, an Agreement on a Guarantee Mechanism should be worked out and signed, which would remove the threat of a repeated armed conflict and make impossible economic blockades and other forms of pressure.   Development of good-neighborly relations with Moldova is believed to be a necessary element of ensuring security, maintaining peace, building mutual confidence, and strengthening cooperation, as well as of sustainable social and economic development of these two countries.   4.2 Relations with the CIS countries  Development of partnership relations with the CIS countries, which are considered to be a significant factor for Pridnestrovien involvement into the regional political and economic integration processes, shall be established as a focal point of the foreign policy of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica.   These processes are considered in Pridnestrovie from a pragmatic point of view, given the reciprocal openness and willingness of the partners – the CIS countries – to take into account Pridnestrovien interests.   4.2.1. Cooperation with the guarantor countries – the Russian Federation and Ukraine – is high on the agenda for Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica. The top priority of this aspect for the Pridnestrovien foreign policy is based both on the geopolitical factor and the historical interaction of these three countries. Great importance is attached to relations with the guarantor countries - the Russian Federation and Ukraine – both at the level of public opinion and state institutions.   The Russian Federation and Ukraine objectively are the most important strategic partners of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica, above all, in the fundamental economic aspect. For a long while already, Russia has maintained a leading place among the main external political partners of Pridnestrovie.   In the security sphere, the Russian Federation as a guarantor country has been doing a substantial bulk of work in maintaining peace and playing an important part in the peacekeeping operation. Through its military observers, Ukraine has been taking part in improving forms of activity of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces in the Security Zone. Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica intends to further advocate an increased participation of Ukraine in the peacekeeping process.   4.2.2 Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica has established and maintained friendly relations with countries seeking recognition.  Given the current challenges and threats, this foreign policy vector, in principle, is engendered by the interest the newly founded states take in joint and coordinated cooperation.   In order to maintain the dialogue on the questions of mutual interest and to coordinate activities in the sphere of international relations, Pridnestrovie will continue developing friendly relations with the Republic of Abkhazia, Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Republic of South Ossetia.   4.3 Relations with other foreign countries and international organizations  Relations with other foreign countries and international organizations, especially with European countries, are of paramount importance to Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica.   Pro-European orientation of Pridnestrovie is explained by the general understanding of fundamental values of the world civilization. A lot of Pridnestrovien foreign interests lie in this area. The importance of a harmonic inclusion of Pridnestrovie into the international democratic community makes necessary an active cooperation.   Cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has been of particular importance to Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica. The OSCE as a mediator in the negotiation process between Moldova and Pridnestrovie has been an important factor in ensuring regional stability.    Pridnestrovie intends to rest on the European experience in the future for its positive political, economic, scientific and technical, and cultural development.   5. Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica in international economic relations  One of the foreign policy priorities for Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica is to facilitate development of the national economy. To this end, Pridnestrovie will take a range of organizational and administrative measures to:   a) create favourable external conditions to establish a market economy in Pridnestrovie; b) expand domestic exports and rationalize imports into the country; c) attract foreign investments into Pridnestrovie.   6. Informational aspect of the foreign policy of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica  A significant aspect of the foreign policy of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica is to provide the whole international community with the objective information on the main international issues in the settlement of relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova, on the main international problems, on initiatives and moves of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica taken in the foreign policy. A top priority task is to create a positive image of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica abroad.   7. Elaboration and conducting of the foreign policy  The Foreign Policy Concept of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica embodies the state ideology in the sphere of international relations, establishes guidelines, ways and methods of upholding Pridnestrovien national interests in the international affairs.   President of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica in accordance with the Constitution and legislation of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica shall have an overall charge over the Pridnestrovien foreign policy and as a head of state represent Pridnestrovie in the international relations.   The Supreme Soviet of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica shall adopt the Foreign Policy Concept, create conditions for its implementation through adoption and ratification of necessary state acts and international acts, and within its constitutional competences carry out a legislative activity to provide a legal basis for Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Republic to pursue its foreign political course and to meet its international commitments.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica shall carry out the foreign policy in practice, control meeting of Pridnestrovien international commitments and coordinate international political activity of executive bodies.