Nearly 20 years after the breakup of the soviet Union. Moldova Chishinau Khayal Babayev Azadliq newspaper. 28.05.2010

Nearly 20 years after the breakup of the soviet Union

Moldovaand the breakway republic of Transdnestr seem as far away as ever from resolving their differences…

Deputy prime minister of Moldova: “This conflict is method of Russia to force Moldova”

font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"">Transdnestr conflict of Moldova is one of the conflicts which comes from SSR post-soviet area. This conflict
also rised after breaking down of SSR.10.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US""> mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"">Immediately
after declairing independence of Moldova this conflict appeared, in 1992 there
was a military confrontation. And what about Azerbaijani audience, what do they
know about Transdnestr conflict in Moldova? What are the similar and different
points of this conflict comparing with Nagorni Garabag conflict-the biggest
issue of Azerbaijan?

As I mentioned this conflict started in 1989, during soviet period and in 1992 it was a military
confrontation where people from both sides were injured. The confrontation was
stopped only after military intervention of Russia. At the present time the
security at the conflict area is protected by the peacekeeper soldiers of
Moldova, Russia and Transdnestr Moldova Republic. For the solution of this
conflict the international organizations help to both sides to come and talk to
each other. But there is no result of “5+2” solution format. OSCE, Russia, Ukraine,
EU, U.S and Moldova, Transdnestr are include in this format. Russia and OSCE
started this peace way solution in 1994, then Ukraine joined to this format. EU
and U.S joind to the peace solution process only in 2005. By supporting EU
project we could travel to this region and could fibd answers for our
questions. In this article you will able to know officials and some political
experts’ opinion. At the same time EU and OSCE representatives will talk about
the role of internatonal organizations to solution of this conflict. But
before  would be interesting to know
opinions of the conflict sides. How do they think, what is the reason of the
conflict?

The solution process can  seriously impact to the integration of Euroatlantic Area.

Moldovan Deputy Prim Minister for reintegration Victor Osipov said that
the territorial integrity of this country is really big problem. He said that
this conflict influence to the political situation in Moldova and Transdnestr
has a radical position to the constitution of Moldova republic. And this is a
big risk to the country. After solving this conflict the integration to the
Euroatlantic area will be fast, so that is why now government try to achieve to
this integration very soon: “From 2009 the negotiations stopped. There is such
kind of thoughts that because of our government is West directed it cant help
this problem. But this is wrong opinion. Because, we have already get some
success within “5+2” format and we believe these successes will complete with
the high level negotiations. Actually, all sides agree with “5+2” format
despite of power in Tiraspol. To unite the country is a big responsibility. It
needs confidence from the both sides”. Moldovan Deputy Prim Minister
said that now international community has a big interest on the Transdnestr
problem and he noticed that there is no ethnic and other confrontation in our
country: “This conflict appeared after breaking down SSR and now for Russia
this conflict is like a tool pressure Moldova. For the present time Transdnestr
get free gas from Russia and it proofs that Russia defends Transdnestr in any
way”.

Differ from Nagorno Garabag conflict Transdnestr is not an ethnic issue.

So-called deputy minister of external affairs from Tiraspol Aleksandr
Malyarchuk thought that the reason of this conflict was when Moldovan
parlament put some new rules on law that based on discrimination in 1989.  He said that multinational Moldovan
government after these new rules discriminate the other nations rights and this
was a reason why in Transdnestr the protests rised on: “ Time by time these
rules were forcely realized also at the schools. As a result of such kind of
politic the confrontation began. Finally there was referendum in Transdnestr
and on the 2^nd September Transdnestr Moldova Republic was declared.
In 1992 the conflict situation changed to the military stage between two sides.
The confrontation lasted one week and from Transdnestr there were killed 1000
people. Now Russian 14^th peacekeeper soldiers are between
Transdenstr and Moldova borders. From the 1992, 22 July there was declared
cease-fire. We are against for international contingent. Because, during 18
years nobody injured”.  A.Malyarchuk said
that the conflict doeasnt have any ethnic character. And peace negotiations
started from 1994 and in 1997-98 years it was in a high level. When in Moldova
Communist party came to power in 2001, there was signed 25 different agreements
between two sides. He also said that in 2003 Russia offered to the both side to
declare federative republic: “But at the last moment Moldova refused to sign
this document”.

EU recognizes unique Moldova Republic

The international organizations’ opinion about solving this conlict also interesting. EU recognize only unique
Moldova republic as its partner, but OSCE’s attitude to this conflict is
different. In 2005 there was signed action plan between Moldova and EU. Representative
of the EU delegation in Moldova Dirk Lorenz said that EU collaborates with
Moldova two-sided and also there is a collaboration within the frame
neighbourhood policy which is Moldova, Rumania, Ukraina included. EU helps
Moldova developing its state governance.

Dirk Lorenz said that EU policy is to support the “5+2” format and EU is not going to participate in the
solution process of this conflict actively: “EU merely recognizes unity of
Moldova Republic and wants to see Moldova as a member of EU as a unity
Republic. About active participation in this conflict process it doesn’t depend
on us. All sides must appreciate this. In the aother side, actively participate
in this issue is not included our policy”.

It is not real that the conflict will turn to military stage

A spokesman of the OSCE mission to Moldova, Claus Neukirch thinks differently. According his speech we can consider that the international opinion about this conflict
is not definitely. He told that from 2006 the official meetings in the frame of
“5+2” was stopped. But the non official meeting are going to be realized in
June. That is why the sides only come to talk in non official format: “There
are paradoxical sides in the conflict Transdnestr, so the talking procces was
stopped. For now “5+2” format is not officially continue. The other specific
side of this conflict is there is no serious problem amoung common citizens.
That is why it is not real that the conflict will turn to military stage. At
the same time talkings is going on “1+1” format, that is an opinion of the
politicians of the both sides. The last year there were four meetings within
this format”.

Both sides should be sincere.

The representative of OSCE also mentioned to the history of this conflict and he
told that during 1980 years there were protests against soviet and it was
normal that it effect to Moldiova too. But this effect at the same time was
rised in Transdnestr. He thought that both sides should be humble solving this
conflict: “Now in both sides there is a tense in political area. In 2005
Moldova parlament decided to give authority to Transdnestr. This authority
approximately looked like the authority of Garachay Republic. But Transdnestr
didn’t agree with this decision. Before they wanted to have confederation, but
now they want to be free. OSCE opinion is against both to be free and to have
an autonomy”.

“Without Russian military support Transdnestr economically could be broken down”.
Politician Andrey Safonov thinks so. He said that it is not real that
Transdnestr will join to Russia. He is not sure that soon this conflict will be
solved because of financial crises in the world: “Also both sides is preparing
to the coming election. We have a lot of debt to Russia because of having gas
from them. But they don’t demand this money from us”.

I should mention that before traveling to Transdnestr we were sured that there
would be chance to talk to common people. But then officuials of Transdnestr
didn’t allow us to take interview from the common people.