1. General Provisions
The Foreign Policy Concept of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (hereinafter referred to as “the Concept”) is a document establishing the content, the priorities, the purposes and the objectives, main directions in the foreign policy of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, as well as mechanisms for its implementation.
This Concept supplements and extends provisions of the Foreign Policy Concept of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic approved by the Supreme Council of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic on May 26, 2005.
Specifying the provisions of the Constitution and other legal acts of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in regard to foreign policy the Concept shall be a framework for the formation and implementation of foreign policy of the Republic along with common principles and standards of international law including the right of people to self-determination.
Basing on the Constitution and regulatory acts, being an integrated extension of the internal policy the foreign policy activity of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic reflects interests of the multiethnic population of the Republic expressed through direct and representative democracy and aims at ensuring and protecting the national sovereignty of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, as well as at establishing favourable environment for economic innovations, growth of investment attractiveness and modernization of main spheres of government activities.
2. The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in the Modern World
The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic was founded on September 2, 1990. Proceeding from the guidelines of international law Pridnestrovians established their own state having exercised thereby the legal right of people to self-determination.
After the dissolution of the USSR and cessation of activity of its legitimate authorities, as well as after the decision taken in 1990 by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova concerning the annulment of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact the establishment of the Moldavian SSR through annexation of Bessarabia to the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was declared void de facto. Thus, restoration of sovereignty and status of the Moldavian ASSR was tacitly recognized and, therefore, it made eligible the establishment of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
Repelling of the armed aggression of the Republic of Moldova in 1992 and confirmation of the will of Pridnestrovians declared at nationwide referenda on December 1, 1991 and September 17, 2006 became the crucial factors for upholding the political and legal status of the Republic and recognition of its objective existence under international law.
Establishment of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is a historically reasoned, valid, and morally defensible consequence of political and legal processes in the modern world.
Today the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is a sovereign, independent, democratic, legal, and secular state where a human is the highest value. As an integrated part of the world community it seeks to be an international legal entity and a prominent actor in regional development having a high transit potential.
The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic has attributes and symbols of state power approved in legal order.
Proceeding from common principles and standards of international law and international legal precedents of the recognition of new states within recent years consistent activity of Pridnestrovie is aimed at the recognition of the international legal personality of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and its subsequent entry into regional and universal international organizations including the United Nations.
Pridnestrovie builds its relations with other actors of the international system on the basis of equality, cooperation, mutual respect and partnership and is committed to active involvement in the activity of regional economic, social, cultural and military associations across the CIS area.
Foreign policy of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is the main mechanism for achieving specified strivings. It shall be implemented on the grounds of international law taking into account the dynamic development of its basic principles and standards.
3. The Goals and Objectives of the Foreign Policy
The modern world undergoes dynamic changes which affect interests of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Developing international and regional situation requires active Pridnestrovian foreign policy adequately responding to existing and potential challenges and threats, and forecasting diplomatic reality based on current national interests.
Protecting and ensuring fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizens, as well as national interests of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic shape the content of the foreign policy of Pridnestrovie. To that end, goals of the foreign policy are as follows:
a) protection of human rights, freedoms and dignity of a person regardless of race, sex, language, religious background, political and other convictions, national or social origin, property or other status;
b) defending and strengthening independence and sovereignty of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic by diplomatic means;
c) developing equal and mutually advantageous relations with the world community;
d) consistent implementation of the will of citizens of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic expressed during the nation-wide referendums;
e) ensuring favourable external conditions by diplomatic means to foster development of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic as a modern democratic state, innovation development of industrial and agrarian sector, improvement of living standards of the population, consolidation of the society, preservation, augmentation and popularization of historic and cultural heritage, as well as identity of the Pridnestrovian people;
f) implementation of the national idea of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic through ensuring participation of Pridnestrovie in dynamic integration processes in the CIS area, including involvement in the Customs Union of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as in the Eurasian Economic Union, Eurasian Economic Commission and other associations;
g) settlement of relations with the Republic of Moldova by means of only peaceful and equal political negotiations and implementation of mutually acceptable agreements.
Successful realization of the specified foreign policy goals shall be achieved under conditions of sustainable internal political stability, high level of consensus in the society on the priority areas and means of foreign policy implementation, development of friendly mutually beneficial stable relations with the neighboring states, major world powers and integration associations.
Objectives of the Pridnestrovian 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.
Foreign policy goals of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic shall be realized based on the fulfillment of the following objectives:
a) international legal recognition and joining the United Nations Organization;
b) strengthening of the region-wide stability and security, primarily by supporting and maintaining the peacekeeping operation in the current internationally fixed format, as well as by retaining presence of the Russian Federation in Pridnestrovie;
c) developing friendly relations with countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and using different mechanisms enabling participation in Eurasian integration processes;
d) developing cooperation and strengthening mutually beneficial partnership relations with other foreign countries, international organizations, including organizations of the UN family, and with world economic, financial and humanitarian institutions and foundations;
e) developing close cooperation with the Russian Federation and Ukraine in order to create conditions to ensure protection of rights and lawful interests of their citizens permanently residing in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
f) enhancing cooperation with subjects of the Russian Federation and regions of Ukraine in economic, scientific and cultural spheres;
g) protecting and strengthening economic and information security of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic;
h) practical realization of the public diplomacy potential to ensure all-round development using variety of cultural, sports and scientific tools;
i) formation and promotion of a positive image of Pridnestrovie abroad.
4. Major Priorities of Pridnestrovian Foreign Policy
Guided by state interests, priorities of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in the international arena are all-round Eurasian integration and settlement of relations with the Republic of Moldova based on separate and independent development of Pridnestrovie.
4.1. Eurasian Integration
Given the results of the 2006 Referendum and the need to implement the will of the people, considering regional processes and priority areas of foreign policy of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, strategic course towards comprehensive integration of Pridnestrovie in Eurasian integration associations under the leading guidance of the Russian Federation has been elaborated. The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic shows particular interest in getting involved in the following integration projects and socio-economic associations: Eurasian Economic Community, Customs Union, Common Economic Space, as well as emerging Eurasian Union with the purpose of gradual integration in common customs, economic, political and cultural space with participating states.
Participation of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in Eurasian integration projects forms one of the solid frameworks of the present-day national idea of Pridnestrovie.
One of the priority tasks in this area is enhancement of mutually beneficial partnership with the focus on the development and strengthening of trade-economic ties, infrastructure, investment, transit, transport and communication potential, cultural and socio-humanitarian collaboration.
Intensifying efforts in this direction will make it possible to strengthen sovereignty and independence of the Republic, guarantees preservation of Pridnestrovian model of multicultural and linguistic identity, socio-economic security, as well as lasting and dynamic economic development.
4.2. The Negotiation Process
Strengthening region-wide stability and security is one of the priority goals of the Pridnestrovian foreign policy.
Pridnestrovie as internationally recognized side in the Moldova-Pridnestrovie settlement process with the participation of guarantor countries – the Russian Federation and Ukraine, mediator – the OSCE, as well as observers from the EU and the USA is interested in and takes active part in the building of the space of peace and stability on the basis of equality and mutual respect of the sides of the negotiation process.
Commitments taken by the sides to the conflict to ensure peace and fair political settlement on the principles of equality of the sides, adoption of mutually agreed decisions, refusal from the use of force or threat of force are fundamental and shall not be subject to revision.
International mediation of Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as well as the peacekeeping operation mechanism carried out under the aegis of the Russian Federation aimed to prevent conflict escalation are necessary conditions for further equitable negotiation process between the sides to the conflict.
Principles and purposes of the negotiation process remain unchanged and lie in the search for mutually acceptable solutions on the whole range of bilateral relations.
Given extensive legal framework existing on a whole number of areas of cooperation between Pridnestrovie and Moldova, as well as in the framework of the Permanent Conference on Political Issues in the Framework of the Pridnestrovian Settlement Negotiation Process, newly reached agreements should certainly rely on previously signed documents which are topical and priority, on their type and implementation mechanisms.
Developing specific model of relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova should rest upon established international practice of peaceful settlement with regard to precedents of the political settlement of conflicts existing in the contemporary history, and should be based on the results of direct will expression of the Pridnestrovian people.
Important condition enabling implementation of future model of relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova should become comprehensive overall system of internal and external guarantees. This creates the need to establish guarantee mechanisms which would made it impossible to use forceful, political, economic and other forms of pressure on either side of the settlement.
5. The Main Directions of Foreign Policy
The general line of foreign policy of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is revealed in main directions of foreign policy including relations with the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Abkhazia, the Republic of South Ossetia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as well as with other countries and international organizations.
5.1. Cooperation with the Russian Federation
A key focus of foreign policy of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is the full development of cooperation with the Russian Federation. Prevailing historical, cultural and economic relations between Russia and Pridnestrovie within the joint Russian world along with Russia's geopolitical interest in region-wide stability objectively determine the need for Russian- Pridnestrovian strategic partnership.
Pridnestrovie considers geopolitical presence of the Russian Federation in the area of the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian conflict as a principal facilitation in maintaining region-wide stability and security. Enduring responsible mission of Russia as a guarantor and mediator in the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian settlement and as a leading force in the tripartite peacekeeping operation is its undeniable contribution to international peace and arrangement of conditions for an equitable final settlement of the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian relations.
In this context the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is willing to enhance cooperation with the Russian Federation in peacekeeping and military policy including cooperation of defence ministries of both states.
Russia is economically the most important strategic partner of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Throughout the formative period of the Pridnestrovian statehood the Russian Federation firmly holds the leading position among the main economic partners of Pridnestrovie.
The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic attaches much significance to the development and further enhancement of trade and economic relations with the Russian Federation.
Proceeding from the experience of bilateral cooperation and already approved mechanisms of interagency cooperation the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic attaches great importance to the development and strengthening of contacts between official departments and agencies of Russia and Pridnestrovie.
The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic considering opinion of the multinational people of Pridnestrovie seeks to enhance cooperation with Russia at the level of civic institutions as well as in education, science and culture.
Pridnestrovie is interested in implementation of national projects and programs of the Russian Federation in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Pridnestrovie fully shares the efforts of the Russian leadership to support nationals in Russia and abroad, and will render its necessary adequate assistance.
5.2. Cooperation with Ukraine
One of the priorities of foreign policy of Pridnestrovie is to develop and strengthen comprehensive cooperation with Ukraine on the basis of the existing close historical, cultural, economic, and trade ties.
Ukraine as a guarantor plays a significant role in the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian settlement and implements together with the Russian Federation measures to support the process of political dialogue between the parties. In view of historical neighbourly relations great importance is attached to the development of cross-border trade and economic relations as well as cross-border cooperation. Therefore increasing commercial and economic cooperation seems foreground and necessary due to important role of Ukraine in Pridnestrovian import and export.
It is topical for the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic to maintain and develop cooperation with regions and other political units of Ukraine in furtherance of existing agreements.
The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic seeks to develop multifaceted cooperation at the interagency level in order to promote comprehensive cooperation with Ukraine.
The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic intends to develop cooperation with Ukraine in regard to education, humanitarian aid, science and culture. Pridnestrovie together with the Ukrainian side will also work systematically to protect the rights and interests of Ukrainian nationals living in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
5.3. Cooperation with the Republic of Moldova
The development of good-neighbourly relations between the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and the Republic of Moldova is a necessary element of security maintenance, peacekeeping, mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries.
Socio-economic cooperation, protection of impaired human rights due to the unsettled Moldovan-Pridnestrovian relations, and humanitarian cooperation are priorities in the bilateral dialogue with Moldova.
5.4. Cooperation with the Republic of Abkhazia, the Republic of South Ossetia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic strives for overall strengthening and development of allied relations with brotherly nations of the Republic of Abkhazia, the Republic of South Ossetia, and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Having a similar fate and having repelled aggression of neighbouring countries the Republic of Abkhazia, the Republic of South Ossetia, and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic are ideological allies united in assertion of the democratic rights of peoples to self-determination and free development.
The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic strengthens political and diplomatic potential of the Community for Democracy and People's Rights increasing internal communication and finding ways to build partnerships with other international actors.
Pridnestrovie intends to continue active cooperation with the Republic of Abkhazia, the Republic of South Ossetia, and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on political and diplomatic issues, in the sphere of combating emergencies, in regard to justice, internal affairs and human rights.
A promising direction is the interaction of states in the field of science, culture, education, environment, youth policy, sport and tourism.
5.5. Relations with other countries and international organizations
Foreign policy of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is aimed at establishing equal constructive relations with foreign countries and international organizations. Pridnestrovie carries out consistent work to establish mutually beneficial contacts with the countries of the European Union, the U.S. and other states.
Establishment of bilateral partnership allows using vast international experience to strengthen economic, scientific-technical and cultural capacity of Pridnestrovie.
Cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is of particular importance for the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. The OSCE contributes to the peaceful political settlement as a mediator in the negotiation process between Moldova and Pridnestrovie.
One of the priorities of foreign policy is international legal recognition of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic by joining the universal international organizations including the United Nations and its separate agencies.
The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic builds relations with other states and international organizations from the pragmatic perspective and subject to reciprocal openness and willingness to consider the opinions and interests of Pridnestrovie.
6. Peacekeeping and Security
The need for a region-wide stability and security as a priority of foreign policy of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic defines the preservation and strengthening of the existing format of the peacekeeping operation on the Dniester River as one of the strategic directions of foreign policy efforts of Pridnestrovie.
Unique tripartite mechanism is based on the contractual and legal foundation laid by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Moldova involving Pridnestrovie (the 1992 Agreement). Peacekeeping mission is characterized by the basic principle of consensus while decision making, the principle of direct cooperation between all participants in taking common decisions, as well as a consistently high confidence and a positive attitude of Pridnestrovian and Moldovan residents to the peacekeepers.
Positive long-term experience of the peacekeeping operation under the leading contribution of the Russian Federation became conclusive evidence of its high efficiency and stabilizing role as the only international guarantee of peace, security and non-resumption of the armed conflict.
Particular emphasis of the peacekeeping mission on the Dniester in the foreign policy of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is determined by its essential function as an internationally recognized mechanism for the settlement of the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian relations in regard to security, a fundamental principle of the political negotiations.
Pridnestrovie proceeds from the assumption that any unilateral attempts to disbalance and to transform the existing format of the peacekeeping operation are dangerous, destructive, and fraught with uncontrolled escalation. Therefore the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in course of its foreign policy has made reasonable efforts to maintain the peacekeeping mechanism and its performance until equitable, comprehensive and final political settlement of the conflict between Moldova and Pridnestrovie.
9. The Shaping and Implementation of Foreign Policy
The President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in accordance with his constitutional authority shall provide general guidance of foreign policy of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, shall define the main directions of foreign policy and as the Head of State shall represent Pridnestrovie in international relations.
The State Council of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic as an advisory body to the President shall take part in discussion of central issues relating to protection of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, as well as in discussion and elaboration of foreign policy course including issues of primary priority for the Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic.
The Supreme Council of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic shall establish conditions for the implementation of the Foreign Policy Concept of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic by ratifying the necessary international acts, shall pursue legislative work within the framework of its constitutional powers to support the foreign policy course of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, to fulfill its international obligations, and shall enhance the effectiveness of foreign policy.
The Government of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic shall take measures to implement the foreign policy of Pridnestrovie.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic shall develop proposals on foreign policy strategy for the President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, shall provide direct implementation of foreign policy, shall supervise the observance of international commitments and shall coordinate the activity of the executive authorities and local self-government in the area of foreign policy.
During the preparation of important decisions the voice of civil society shall be taken into account through the activity of the Public Chamber of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, the Public Expert Council under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, as well as through other forms of cooperation with civil society.
7. Foreign Economic Activity of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
Foreign economic activity of Pridnestrovie is aimed at creating optimal conditions for sustainable socio-economic development, favourable investment climate, development of all-round cooperation with foreign countries and international financial and economic organizations.
The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is found in the juxtaposition of different areas of trade-economic integration, i.e. Eurasian and European ones. Pridnestrovie has high enough transit and binding potential to give impetus to the overall economic collaboration between major trans-regional markets, and production and infrastructure base allowing integration into the present-day modern trade.
The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic creates optimal conditions for attracting foreign investment, increasing trade turnover with the neighboring countries, and intensifying economic contacts on a wide range of industrial branches.
Implementation of the above goals defines foreign economic objectives of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic as follows:
a) to ensure unimpeded foreign economic activity of economic entities of Pridnestrovie;
b) to facilitate investment programs and economic restructuring, inter alia through extensive attraction of foreign investments to enable implementation of production infrastructural and social projects of important socio-economic significance;
c) to reinforce export potential of Pridnestrovie; to promote export oriented and import substitution production of goods and services;
d) to ensure proper conditions for international transit of transport and goods;
e) to intensify interaction with the states and state regions included in the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Pridnestrovie will make efforts to receive regimes for the Pridnestrovian goods and producers similar to those granted to goods and suppliers in the Customs Union;
f) to encourage creation of conditions needed for promotion of the Pridnestrovian export into the markets of member states of the Customs Union.
8. Public-Information Dimension of the Foreign Policy
Implementation of information policy of the state aimed at bringing to international notice pressing information about current processes and trends in the Republic, as well as ensuring information security of the state in conditions of unresolved conflict with the Republic of Moldova is an important area of foreign policy activity of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
Information policy of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is open and aimed at protection of state interests. Pridnestrovie uses the whole arsenal of information tools, including public diplomacy means, to create information field fostering development of a positive image of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic abroad.
Recognizing the coordinating role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in implementation of the above objectives, senior officials of the Pridnestrovian MFA step up collaboration of all state government and administration bodies to involve them in joint work aimed at creation of attractive image of Pridnestrovie.
Comprehensive image strategy of the state (national branding) shall also be accepted as the most important element of foreign policy of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Image strategy implies focused formation of objective positive views of Pridnestrovie and its population with the emphasis to be put on the following aspects:
Pridnestrovie is a multinational Republic where Moldavian, Ukrainian, Russian, Bulgarian, Jewish, Gagauz and other cultures actively develop and interact. Special Pridnestrovian identity has been established here on the basis of traditional atmosphere of tolerance and interethnic accord.
Pridnestrovie is investment-attractive region of Europe with high industrial potential. The state sells qualitative recognizable products on the foreign market.
Due to its geographical position and good climate, Pridnestrovie is the place where tourism sector is actively developing, and favourable conditions for cultural recreation of the Pridnestrovian citizens and guests are being created.
Pridnestrovie is an integral part of the Russian world, actively seeking deeper involvement in the integration processes in the Eurasian area. It is the society based on the respect for achievements of its ancestors, with rich and unique history and culture.
Positioning Pridnestrovie as a successful, dynamically developing society stands as a priority of the public-information dimension of the foreign political activity which should become an effective tool of the “soft power” towards de jure recognition of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic as a full subject of international law.
