Delegation of representatives of guarantor states, intermediaries and observers in Permanent Consultations on Political Issues in the Framework of the Pridnestrovien Settlement Negotiation Process paid an official visit to Pridnestrovie today. Delegation consisted of diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, OSCE, EU and USA. Meeting of honorable guests with the President of the PMR Igor Smirnov took place in House of Official Receptions in Tiraspol. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR Vladimir Yastrebchak, other members of Cabinet of Ministers, heads of Pridnestrovien sectoral expert groups and PMR's Co-Chairman of Joint Control Commission also participated in the meeting from the Pridnestrovien side.
Head of Pridnestrovien state, who opened the meeting, noted the importance of such attention of international community for normalization of relations between Moldova and Pridnestrovie. In his speech the President of PMR paid attention to certain issues of Moldova-Pridnestrovie settlement, including those, connected with the decision on the resumption of the official work of 5+2 format, which was taken on September 22 in Moscow. Talking about the significance of this step, Igor Smirnov paid attention to auxiliary nature of Permanent Consultations on Political Issues in the Framework of the Pridnestrovien Settlement Negotiation Process. “5+2 is one of the formats, promoting the settlement, but it substitutes the negotiation process in no way,” Head of Pridnestrovien state said. He noted, that for Tiraspol “the possibility of efficacious dialog on all levels, firstly on the level of decisions, which are politically and legally obligatory and may be taken by heads of states and governments, is quite important.”
Commenting upon the initiative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on carrying out of the first official meeting in 5+2 format already this year, supposedly on November 30 – December 1, Igor Smirnov announced, the Pridnestrovie is ready for this work. In addition to that, he noted, that a substantive agenda must be worked out for this purpose. Issue on principles and procedures of functioning of Permanent Consultations is supposed to become its basis. “It is necessary to work for the result. Regulations of activity in the framework of this format must become this result,” Head of state said.
The PMR's President submitted to representatives of guarantor states, intermediaries and observers corresponding proposals of the Pridnestrovien side, defining the rules of dialoging. Equality of the sides of the conflict, execution of the arrangements, achieved earlier, necessity to adhere to peaceful political means, which exclude use of any pressure, are among such rules.
In connection with this Igor Smirnov drew the attention of representatives of delegation on negative tendencies, recently revealed in politics of the authorities of the Republic of Moldova. As noted by Head of state, from the beginning of October the Moldavian side stopped issuing permissions on irregular transportations for Pridnestrovien motor transport. Besides, the administrative persecution in Moldova of citizens of the PMR, also having Russian or Ukrainian citizenship, continues.
“We are not going to put up with violations of our citizens' rights, and will take all measures for their restoration and protection,” the PMR's President told. “We look for assistance of our mediators and observers in these issues, especially that of guarantors, whose citizens suffer from arbitrary actions of the Moldovan authorities most of all”. Igor Smirnov forwarded to foreign diplomats Memo with detailed description of violations of rights of the Pridnestrovien citizens by the Moldovan authorities.
Head of the State also paid attention to the provocative policy of the leadership of RM in the Security Zone. As an example, he cited an incident which has taken place this week when Kishinev carried out military exercise involving artillery in the vicinity of the Pridnestrovien border. “Shootings started without Pridnestrovie being warned and notified. Did they want us to fire back?” Igor Smirnov wondered. Upon his instruction, Co-Chairperson of the Joint Control Commission from Pridnestrovie Oleg Belyakov conveyed details of this incident to foreign diplomats. According to him, fire in the Security Zone, five kilometers away from Bendery, was opened by artillery units of Moldova. Furthermore, in violation of the existing order, the Pridnestrovien side had not been preliminary informed about the forthcoming exercise. “In our opinion, Republic of Moldova deliberately carries out such actions in order to aggravate situation in the Security Zone,” Oleg Belyakov told.
At the meeting with the delegation of representatives of guarantor countries, mediators and observers, PMR's President informed diplomats about Tiraspol's intention to adopt Law on Goals and Principles of the Negotiation Process with the Republic of Moldova. Draft Law is currently being considered at the Supreme Soviet. Earlier on, the Moldovan side expressed its discontent in view of intention of Pridnestrovie to adopt this document. Kishinev authorities declared it can complicate negotiation process. “This Law doesn't create any obstacles for negotiations,” Igor Smirnov noted. “Its main goal is to ensure continuity of the Pridnestrovien position what all international partners are interested in, and its internal legal foundation regardless of the fact who will conduct negotiations.”
According to the President, in the course of negotiations question about final model of settlement will probably arise. “There should be no illusions: basing on decisions of the 2006 Referendum about independence of our state, the Pridnestrovien side doesn't carry out and has no right to carry out negotiations on a certain “status” within neighbouring state – the Republic of Moldova,” Igor Smirnov stated. “The goal of the negotiations is final normalization of relations with the Republic of Moldova based on the principles of good neighbourhood, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs of each other.”
Summing up the meeting with the President of the PMR in interview with the journalists, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Giedrius Cekuolis expressed his appreciation to the Pridnestrovien side of a deep and detailed analysis of the situation. Speaking about the forthcoming official meeting in the five plus two format, he pointed out that decision to officialize this work “solemnizes it and increases responsibility of all its participants.” “There is no need to arrange a race, let progress be millimeter by millimeter; but it is important that the process should be in progress,” Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office suggests.
