Transnistria, Moldova’s enclave at its Eastern border with Ukraine, has become a lawless territory for criminal activities, arms, goods and drugs smuggling, human trafficking to Western Europe and Middle East. The Transnistrian “frozen conflict” mirrors other secessionist conflicts in the former Soviet Union: in Georgia (Abkhazia and South Ossetia) and in Azerbaijan (Nagorno-Karabakh). These conflicts become a real security problem at the EU and NATO’s South-eastern border.

The current and former formats failed to solve the conflict. A new approach is necessary. The Moldovan civil society elaborated a new strategy for the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, named 3D concept: demilitarization, decriminalization, and democratization. Since its official presentation in September 2004, it enjoys a wide and enthusiastic support in Moldova. The strategy provides the citizens of the Republic of Moldova on both banks of Nistru River with a unique opportunity to have an honest, democratic and mature say in the future viability of their country after the three key principles are implemented:

• demilitarization (withdrawal of the Russian troops and decommissioning of military plants and disarmament of the Transnistrian military and security forces); 
• decriminalization (curbing and suppressing the rampant contraband, arms and human trafficking, other criminal activities); 
• democratization (ensuring a free flow of information, freedom of speech; implementing international human rights standards, promote rule of law, create an appropriate environment for free local and national elections).

Key elements of the new strategy:

• New format of negotiations: The 3D Strategy suggests the strengthening of the current five-party format of “3 plus 2” (Russia, Ukraine and OSCE plus Moldova and Transnistria) by transforming it into a new one: “3 plus 1 plus 3” (Russia, Ukraine, Romania plus Moldova plus OSCE, USA and EU).
• Founding Document: The parties will set up a Collective Settlement International Agreement. The Moldovan Government would use its sovereign right to call for the signing of such an agreement. This agreement would confirm the commitment of the ‘3+1+3’ members to the implementation of the envisioned Plan of Settlement.
• Supervisory Authority: Organizations and countries involved would nominate representatives to an International Executive Council which would monitor the implementation of the Action Plan for the final settlement of the conflict, and post-conflict rehabilitation strategies. 
• Executive Institutions: The International Executive Council would create an International Civil Provisional Administration in the eastern districts of the Republic of Moldova. Its chief would be designated jointly by the OSCE and EU with the consent of the seven parties. Same way, an Ombudsman’s Office, an International Civil Police Force would be created with an UN mandate and led by the EU. 
• Special Status: A special status for the urban agglomeration Tiraspol would entail self-government under a free-city model and a free economic zone.
• Time frame: 2005 – 2008: implementation of demilitarization and decriminalization objectives, progress on democratization and post-conflict rehabilitation; 2009-2012: democracy consolidation and completed integration and post-conflict rehabilitation.

The success of this strategy will depend on the firm political will of the Government of Moldova, as well strong support and unequivocal engagement of the West (EU, OSCE and USA), immediate neighbours (Ukraine, Romania) and Russia that should be interested in ensuring a climate of regional security and stability.

The European Union and the United States need to play a more active role in the resolution of the conflict and no longer regard Moldova as an “exclusive area of [Russian] geopolitical interests”. Specifically the EU & US should consider the following actions:

• Involvement in negotiations under the new “3+1+3” format and formulation of the Collective Settlement International Agreement.
• Support and resources for the installation of the International Civil Provisional Administration (ICPA) for a limited transitional period, as stipulated by the Road Map. 
• Participation in the creation of a new Civil Police Force in Transnistria with a clear mission to ensure the necessary conditions for the implementation of the Road Map and tasks delegated to the ICPA. [Recently, the EU decided to send civil police to Sudan, so it is highly legitimate that a similar operation could be provided to a ‘new neighbor’ which has already endorsed the first Action Plan with the EU]. 
• Setting up a Crisis Management Unit to mediate and monitor conflicts, strengthen civil society in the region 
• Participation in the creation of a Special Fund for the reconstruction of the region, with finance and consultancy provided under strict coordination and auditing by the ICPA. 
• Extension of the EU–Moldova Action Plan to the consolidation of state security and viability guarantees until the opportunity arises to obtain the status of EU associate member; 
• Negotiation and coordination of a multi-annual program of technical assistance for the creation and development of civil, democratic institutions as prerequisites for the economic, political and social reintegration of Transnistrian into the constitutional domain of Moldova. 
• Blocking commercial and financial transactions with firms in Transnistrian that are not legally registered as businesses in the Republic of Moldova.

The Strategy was developed by a group of Moldovan NGOs. See the whole text here.  
For questions, please contact the Moldova Foundation