Politics
Moscow signals interest in Berlin initiative on Transnistria
Reading Time: 4 minutes Conflict-settlement principles: “We [Russia, EU, Moldova] see the ultimate goal exactly in the same way: a special status for Transnistria in the framework of a united Moldovan state and of Moldova’s territorial integrity.”
On March 29 in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with his Moldovan counterpart, Iurie Leanca, on resuming and advancing a resolution of the Transnistria conflict (Moldpres, March 30; Nezavisimaya Gazeta, March 31). European Union and Moldovan officials note some positive Russian signals in this meeting’s conclusion.
This meeting brings the first-ever public indication of Russian interest in a German-proposed trade-off involving Transnistria. The June 2010 Meseberg Memorandum, signed by Chancellor Angela Merkel with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at Merkel’s initiative, envisages creating a EU-Russia Political and Security Committee. This could potentially give Russia a voice in the EU’s decision-making processes, in line with a neo-Ostpolitik ideology. To facilitate this, Berlin is asking Moscow to demonstrate its bona fides as partner to the EU by facilitating a resolution of the Transnistria conflict.
The Meseberg Memorandum envisages this tradeoff. The EU has not endorsed this German initiative; and some EU member countries have expressed reservations over its substance and process.
Moscow responded with studied indifference until Lavrov finally signaled interest on March 29. He used the meeting with the Moldovan minister to indicate that Moscow would consider exploring the German proposal. Lavrov made the following points (Interfax, March 29):
1. Merkel’s initiative: “We do not consider that progress on Transnistria conflict-resolution depends on setting up the committee. Whether such a committee is supported by other EU countries or not, we must move forward with a solution on Transnistria. We await EU reactions to this proposal initiated by the leader of the biggest EU country and the president of Russia, strategic partner to the EU. The committee has not been set up, and not for lack of desire on our part.”
Behind the noble pretense of disinterest in a tradeoff, Lavrov is clearly accepting the German-proposed linkage; he expresses frustration with EU foot-dragging over Berlin’s proposal; and he almost advertises Moscow’s wish to move ahead with the proposed committee (in line with Russia’s key objective of entering European decision-making processes while excluding any European access to Russian decision-making).
2. Conflict-settlement principles: “We [Russia, EU, Moldova] see the ultimate goal exactly in the same way: a special status for Transnistria in the framework of a united Moldovan state and of Moldova’s territorial integrity.”
Lavrov’s assurance might, perhaps, be regarded as progress because references to Moldova’s territorial integrity had become exceedingly rare in Russian official pronouncements since 2008. From 1992 to 2008, however, Moscow was routinely acknowledging Moldova’s territorial integrity on paper, while partitioning the country in practice. Thus, Russia should finally be held to its word in any follow-up negotiations, as well as in the Meseberg framework.
3. Negotiating process and sequencing: Lavrov called for the soonest re-opening the negotiations in the 5+2 format, which Moscow and Tiraspol have blocked since March 2006. Not only did Lavrov display a sense of urgency about resuming the negotiations, but he hinted that Moscow would press Tiraspol to follow suit: “We will do everything to persuade the parties to adopt this view” (Chisinau of course needs no persuading).
Lavrov listed the stages of this process in the following sequence: “re-opening of negotiations, political solution [to Transnistria’s status], and a decision on peacekeeping issues” [i.e., mainly on Russian troops]. Lavrov complained in that Moldova’s 2005 organic law on the principles of conflict-settlement restricts Chisinau’s negotiating leeway. In fact, Chisinau’s leeway had been so stretched and abused (from Moscow and from other quarters) that Chisinau deemed necessary to adopt that legal shield against such pressures.
4. Russian troops and ordnance in Transnistria: according to Lavrov, a re-formatting of Russia’s “peacekeeping” operation can be negotiated after Transnistria’s status has been negotiated and adopted. By the same token, the stored ordnance can “only be evacuated or recycled in the framework of the negotiating process.” [The ordnance stockpiles provide an added excuse for the stationing of Russian troops].
These statements essentially reaffirm Moscow’s almost 20-year old view: troop-withdrawal is conditional on a political settlement acceptable to Moscow and Tiraspol.
5. Moldova’s neutrality: Lavrov expressed satisfaction with Moldova’s “neutrality based on Moldova’s constitution. In this we see an essential contribution to European security architecture.”
At least since 2004 Moscow was seeking some “guarantees” of Moldova’s neutrality, as part of the price for settling the Transnistria conflict, in addition to the neutrality article in Moldova’s constitution. Lavrov’s remarks seem to imply that Russia might not seek such additional “guarantees.”
Moldova as well as the European Union and United States seek the resumption of 5+2 negotiations as the first and foremost goal. They want the process, once re-opened, to deliver results without undue delays. However, the sequencing of stages as outlined by Lavrov would enable Russia to resume a process for process’ sake, without delivering a solution to the Transnistria conflict.
As Minister Leanca said to Lavrov, “Moldova wants to bring the process into the home stretch.” Implicitly testing Moscow’s bona fides (which the Meseberg document is also meant to probe) Leanca suggested that the process could start by working out proposals for transforming Russia’s “peacekeeping” operation into an international contingent, mainly of civilian police.
Quite likely, Moscow would try to offer process, rather than substance, on its side of the Meseberg tradeoff. The 5+2 negotiations seem set to resume shortly. Once it is under way, the process will test not only Russia’s capacity to become a security partner of the EU. It will equally test Germany’s capacity to insist that Russia deliver actual results, rather than process; and that Moscow is not entitled to discounts on the price of its admission ticket to EU decision-making processes.
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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