Politics
Moldova: Changes in Geopolitical Configuration of the Region
Reading Time: 5 minutesVlad Spanu
18th Economic Forum in Krynica’s Panel: "Moldova: Changes in Geopolitical Configuration of the Region"
By Vlad Spânu*
There are two significant events that changed the geopolitical configuration that affects the Republic of Moldova:
1. Expansion of NATO and EU reaching the Moldova’s border, when Romania became a NATO member in 2004 and EU member in 2007.
2. Russia’s military aggression against Georgia.
The first event made the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) to pay more attention to Moldova. Both these two international players got involved in the Transnistrian conflict negotiations (in the 5+2 format [Moldova, Transnistrian region, Russia, Ukraine, OSCE, along with EU and US]); the EU started to monitor Moldova-Ukraine border to prevent smuggling of arms and goods; and relations between EU and Moldova started to get to a new level. The goal of the European Union and the United States [in the Transnistrian conflict settlement] coincide with the goal of Moldova, which is to unite Transnistria with the rest of Moldova, thus, eliminating this security regional threat. Besides, EU and US support democratic reforms in Moldova, including in the Transnistrian region.
The second event – Russia’s full scale war against Georgia – gave leverage to Russia over Moldova, the last fearing of a possible Russian military intervention. In this position of strength, Russian President [Dmitry] Medvedev invited his Moldovan counterpart [Vladimir] Voronin to Sochi — not by accident there, near the border with Georgia’s region of Abkhazia. There, Voronin was told that he should learn a “right” lesson from the Russia-Georgia war and solve the Transnistrian conflict on Russia’s terms. In Sergey Lavrov’s own words, after Medvedev-Voronin meeting, Russia and Moldova “agreed” to get back to the 2003 Kozak Memorandum’s principles.
What this Russian plan meant for Moldova? The main objective of the Kozak Memorandum was to transform Moldova in a dysfunctional state through disproportional presence in the Moldovan Parliament of deputies from the Transnistrian region that would have veto power over any decisions on foreign relations or internal policies. This move would mean “NO” to reforms and to the EU integration of Moldova and, of course, to NATO. Besides, to be sure the proposed scheme stays in place, Russia wanted to make its military presence in Moldova permanent, that is, to have Russian military base for at least 20 years.
The declared goal of the Russian Federation in the Transnistrian conflict is to protect Russian citizens who became such over night when they were generously handled Russian passports. It is simply a bluff. In reality, in the capital of Moldova, Chisinau, there are more ethnic Russians than in the entire Transnistria, where Russians are the third largest group after Moldovans and Ukrainians. And Moldovan citizens of Russian ethnicity in Chisinau and in the rest of Moldova enjoy the same rights as the majority or any other ethnic groups.
Another declared goal of Russia is to have a stable and neutral Moldova. But how can one have a stable Moldova when Russia made efforts to create a conflict, then to freeze it, encouraging separatism by supporting it financially, economically and politically? Today, the only obstacle for Moldova’s neutrality, a status declared in its Constitution, is the presence of the Russian military forces on its territory, which Russia calls them peacekeepers. After the Georgian crisis [in August 2008], there are no doubts around the world that Russian forces in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transnistria are anything but peacekeepers. Since the escalation of the Transnistrian conflict, Russian troops are part of the conflict and this is clearly stated in the 1992 ceasefire agreement between the two belligerent countries, Russia and the Republic of Moldova. This was reiterated by Strasburg’s Court of Human Rights in its 2004 decision [on the Transnistrian conflict] on the “Ilascu and others versus Russia…” case.
How do we move out from this cul-de-sac to a resolution of the Transnistrian conflict?
There is a need for the following conditions to be met:
1. A full cooperation of the Russian Federation: its political will to establish relations with Moldova and other parties involved in the Transnistrian conflict negotiations based on long lasting peace and a stable Moldova, not a fake short-term advantage for Russia, while worsening its image and relations with the international community.
2. We need an active Ukraine. From 1992 to 2005, Ukraine was a passive mediator in the Transnistrian conflict, at best. At worst, Kiev had a hidden agenda, it allowed Kazaks paramilitary formations from Russia (but also from Ukraine) to march in route to Transnistria to fight Moldovan government forces; it allowed smuggling of arms and goods through its territory. Fortunately, since 2005, President Victor Yushchenko and new governments of Ukraine reversed that course, coming [at the negotiation table] with their own ideas on the conflict resolution, cooperating with the European Union and the Moldovan government in monitoring its western border with Moldova. In my view (and of many other experts), Ukraine has the potential to become not a key player, but the key player in the Transnistrian conflict. Looking at the map, one can see that Ukraine is encircled by Russia or Russian military bases: from the North (via Belarus), to the East and to the South (with the Russian Navy stationed in Sevastopol). The only window Ukraine has is the West, but the Transnistrian conflict and the Russian military forces station in Moldova prevent Ukraine from having that window. Therefore, it is in Ukraine’s national interest to contribute positively further to the final resolution of the Transnistrian conflict and evacuation of the Russian troops out of Moldova.
3. The EU and US must be active as participants of the 5+2 format. Discussions outside this format would not be productive; they wouldn’t lead to a lasting peace and Moldova should be encouraged to stay on the 5+2 course. More than that, EU and US, along with other parties, should revisit a 2006 proposal of independent experts regarding the need for change of the current Russia-dominated military format in the security zone of the conflict into a true unbiased multinational peacekeeping format. This move would prevent any military actions like we have witnessed in Georgia last month. In that experts’ non-paper, it was offered to look at the experience of the Sinai Peninsula’s Multinational Force & Observers that were established in 1981 by an agreement between Egypt and Israel, intermediated and signed by the United States. That agreement works and we have a solid piece in the Sinai Peninsula; why not try that experience in Moldova?
4. The last, but not the least, we need an active Moldova. After all, the population East of the Nistru (Dniester) River are Moldovan citizens and the central government in Chisinau should assist, protect them, letting them know that they are entitled of benefiting from all rights other Moldova citizens enjoy. There are some cases when public institutions in Moldova (in healthcare, judicial system) treat the population leaving in the Transnistrian region as foreigners. This should change. Moldova should be also active internationally, engaging important players in assisting Moldova to overcome not only the conflict, but also its difficult transition to a true democratic society.
—–
* Vlad Spânu is the President of the Washington, DC-based Moldova Foundation. This is his presentation at the 18th Economic Forum in Krynica, Southern Poland, Sept. 10-13, 2008; Panel: "Moldova: 
Changes in Geopolitical Configuration of the Region").
The Economic Forum in Krynica is often referred to as the Davos of Central Europe, where serious debates on European and global issues take place. Annually, around 2000 guests take part in panel discussions, which turns the Economic Forum into the largest gathering of elites and experts in this part of Europe. In 2008, some 60 countries were represented at this event.
A new football club has earned a leading place in the UEFA Champions League groups and starred in the headlines of worldwide football news yesterday. The Football Club Sheriff Tiraspol claimed a win with the score 2-1 against Real Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. That made Sheriff Tiraspol the leader in Group D of the Champions League, including the football club in the groups of the most important European interclub competition for the first time ever.
International media outlets called it a miracle, a shock and a historic event, while strongly emphasizing the origin of the team and the existing political conflict between the two banks of the Dniester. “Football club from a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history,” claimed the news portals. “Sheriff crushed Real!” they said.
Moldovans made a big fuss out of it on social media, splitting into two groups: those who praised the team and the Republic of Moldova for making history and those who declared that the football club and their merits belong to Transnistria – a problematic breakaway region that claims to be a separate country.
Both groups are right and not right at the same time, as there is a bunch of ethical, political, social and practical matters that need to be considered.
Is it Moldova?
First of all, every Moldovan either from the right or left bank of Dniester (Transnistria) is free to identify himself with this achievement or not to do so, said Vitalie Spranceana, a sociologist, blogger, journalist and urban activist. According to him, boycotting the football club for being a separatist team is wrong.
At the same time, “it’s an illusion to think that territory matters when it comes to football clubs,” Spranceana claimed. “Big teams, the ones included in the Champions League, have long lost their connection both with the countries in which they operate, and with the cities in which they appeared and to which they linked their history. […] In the age of globalized commercial football, teams, including the so-called local ones, are nothing more than global traveling commercial circuses, incidentally linked to cities, but more closely linked to all sorts of dirty, semi-dirty and cleaner cash flows.”
What is more important in this case is the consistency, not so much of citizens, as of politicians from the government who have “no right to celebrate the success of separatism,” as they represent “the national interests, not the personal or collective pleasures of certain segments of the population,” believes the political expert Dionis Cenusa. The victory of FC Sheriff encourages Transnistrian separatism, which receives validation now, he also stated.
“I don’t know how it happens that the “proud Moldovans who chose democracy”, in their enthusiasm for Sheriff Tiraspol’s victory over Real Madrid, forget the need for total and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria!” declared the journalist Vitalie Ciobanu.
Nowadays, FC Sheriff Tiraspol has no other choice than to represent Moldova internationally. For many years, the team used the Moldovan Football Federation in order to be able to participate in championships, including international ones. That is because the region remains unrecognised by the international community. However, the club’s victory is presented as that of Transnistria within the region, without any reference to the Republic of Moldova, its separatist character being applied in this case especially.
Is it a victory?
In fact, FC Sheriff Tiraspol joining the Champions League is a huge image breakthrough for the Transnistrian region, as the journalist Madalin Necsutu claimed. It is the success of the Tiraspol Club oligarchic patrons. From the practical point of view, FC Sheriff Tiraspol is a sports entity that serves its own interests and the interests of its owners, being dependent on the money invested by Tiraspol (but not only) oligarchs.
Here comes the real dilemma: the Transnistrian team, which is generously funded by money received from corruption schemes and money laundering, is waging an unequal fight with the rest of the Moldovan football clubs, the journalist also declared. The Tiraspol team is about to raise 15.6 million euro for reaching the Champions League groups and the amounts increase depending on their future performance. According to Necsutu, these money will go directly on the account of the club, not to the Moldovan Football Federation, creating an even bigger gab between FC Sheriff and other football clubs from Moldova who have much more modest financial possibilities.
“I do not see anything useful for Moldovan football, not a single Moldovan player is part of FC Sheriff Tiraspol. I do not see anything beneficial for the Moldovan Football Federation or any national team.”
Is it only about football?
FC Sheriff Tiraspol, with a total estimated value of 12.8 million euros, is controlled by Victor Gusan and Ilya Kazmala, being part of Sheriff Holding – a company that controls the trade of wholesale, retail food, fuels and medicine by having monopolies on these markets in Transnistria. The holding carries out car trading activities, but also operates in the field of construction and real estate. Gusan’s people also hold all of the main leadership offices in the breakaway region, from Parliament to the Prime Minister’s seat or the Presidency.
The football club is supported by a holding alleged of smuggling, corruption, money laundering and organised crime. Moldovan media outlets published investigations about the signals regarding the Sheriff’s holding involvement in the vote mobilization and remuneration of citizens on the left bank of the Dniester who participated in the snap parliamentary elections this summer and who were eager to vote for the pro-Russian socialist-communist bloc.
Considering the above, there is a great probability that the Republic of Moldova will still be represented by a football club that is not identified as being Moldovan, being funded from obscure money, growing in power and promoting the Transnistrian conflict in the future as well.
Photo: unknown
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicu Popescu, pay an official visit to Brussels, between September 27-28, being invited by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
Today, Prime Minister had a meeting with Charles Michel, President of the European Council. The Moldovan PM thanked the senior European official for the support of the institution in strengthening democratic processes, reforming the judiciary and state institutions, economic recovery and job creation, as well as increasing citizens’ welfare. Natalia Gavrilita expressed her confidence that the current visit laid the foundations for boosting relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, so that, in the next period, it would be possible to advance high-level dialogues on security, justice and energy. Officials also exchanged views on priorities for the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held in December.
“The EU is open to continue to support the Republic of Moldova and the ambitious reform agenda it proposes. Moldova is an important and priority partner for us,” said Charles Michel.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita also met with Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economy, expressing her gratitude for the support received through the OMNIBUS macro-financial assistance program. The two officials discussed the need to advance the recovery of money from bank fraud, to strengthen sustainable mechanisms for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Moldova, and to standardize the customs and taxes as one of the main conditions for deepening cooperation with the EU in this field.
Additionally, Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the Eastern Partnership and the Deep Free Trade Agreement, noting that the Government’s policies are aimed at developing an economic model aligned with the European economic model, focused on digitalization, energy efficiency and the green economy.
A common press release of the Moldovan Prime Minister with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles, took place today, where the agenda of Moldova’s reforms and the main priorities to focus on in the coming months were presented: judiciary reform; fighting COVID-19 pandemic; promoting economic recovery and conditions for growth and job creation; strengthening state institutions and resilience of the country.
“I am here to relaunch the dialogue between my country and the European Union. Our partnership is strong, but I believe there is room for even deeper cooperation and stronger political, economic and sectoral ties. I am convinced that this partnership is the key to the prosperity of our country and I hope that we will continue to strengthen cooperation.”
The Moldovan delegation met Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice. Tomorrow, there are scheduled common meetings with Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Adina Valean, European Commissioner for Transport and Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.
Prime Minister will also attend a public event, along with Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
Photo: gov.md
Politics
Promo-LEX about Maia Sandu’s UN speech: The president must insist on appointing a rapporteur to monitor the situation of human rights in Transnistria
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, pays an official visit to New York, USA, between September 21-22. There, she participates in the work of the United Nations General Assembly. According to a press release of the President’s Office, the official will deliver a speech at the tribune of the United Nations.
In this context, the Promo-LEX Association suggested the president to request the appointment of a special rapporteur in order to monitor the situation of human rights in the Transnistrian region. According to Promo-LEX, the responsibility for human rights violations in the Transnistrian region arises as a result of the Russian Federation’s military, economic and political control over the Tiraspol regime.
“We consider it imperative to insist on the observance of the international commitments assumed by the Russian Federation regarding the withdrawal of the armed forces and ammunition from the territory of the country,” the representatives of Promo-LEX stated. They consider the speech before the UN an opportunity “to demand the observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Russian Federation with reference to this territory which is in its full control.”
“It is important to remember about the numerous cases of murder, torture, ill-treatment, forced enlistment in illegal military structures, the application of pseudo-justice in the Transnistrian region, all carried out under the tacit agreement of the Russian Federation. These findings stem from dozens of rulings and decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights, which found that Russia is responsible for human rights violations in the region.”
The association representatives expressed their hope that the president of the country would give priority to issues related to the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region and would call on relevant international actors to contribute to guaranteeing fundamental human rights and freedoms throughout Moldova.
They asked Maia Sandu to insist on the observance of the obligation to evacuate the ammunition and the military units of the Russian Federation from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, to publicly support the need for the Russian Federation to implement the ECtHR rulings on human rights violations in the Transnistrian region, and to request the appointment of an UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
**
The Promo-LEX Association concluded that 14 out of 25 actions planned within the National Action Plan for the years 2018–2022 concerning respecting human rights in Transnistria were not carried out by the responsible authorities.
The association expressed its concern and mentioned that there are a large number of delays in the planned results. “There is a lack of communication and coordination between the designated institutions, which do not yet have a common vision of interaction for the implementation of the plan.”
Promo-LEX requested the Government of the Republic of Moldova to re-assess the reported activities and to take urgent measures, “which would exclude superficial implementation of future activities and increase the level of accountability of the authorities.”
Photo: peacekeeping.un.org
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