{"id":449457,"date":"2021-06-04T13:02:46","date_gmt":"2021-06-04T13:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.moldova.org\/en\/?p=449457"},"modified":"2021-06-04T13:07:05","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T13:07:05","slug":"the-role-of-the-52-negotiations-and-the-russian-peacekeeping-mission-in-settling-the-transnistrian-conflict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moldova.org\/en\/the-role-of-the-52-negotiations-and-the-russian-peacekeeping-mission-in-settling-the-transnistrian-conflict\/","title":{"rendered":"The role of the 5+2 negotiations and the Russian ‘peacekeeping mission’ in settling the Transnistrian conflict"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 5<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

These days, a delegation of mediators and observers at the Permanent Conference on Political Issues in the negotiation process for the Transnistrian settlement in the 5+2 format<\/strong> are paying an official visit to the Republic of Moldova. The delegation is led by Thomas Mayr-Harting<\/strong>, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office for the Transnistrian settlement process.<\/p>\n

The delegation have already met with several Moldovan officials, including President Maia Sandu, Acting Prime Minister, Aureliu Ciocoi, and Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, Olga Cebotari. In Tiraspol, they are about to meet with the Transnistrian leader, Vadim Krasnoselski, and the regime’s political representative, Vitali Ignatiev.<\/p>\n

When discussing with both Moldovan and Transnistrian sides, mediators and observers exchange views on the current state of affairs and review the potential forthcoming actions for improving lives of people on both banks of the Dniester, especially when it comes to freedom of movement, protection of human rights, transportation and healthcare.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the common meeting with the Acting Government representatives, the implementation of agreements in the Berlin+ conventional package was discussed<\/a>: ensuring proper functioning of Moldovan educational institutions, access to agricultural plots in the conflict region, purchase of new ferries to transport passengers and goods across the Dniester, reconstructions works of the main land access routes, etc.<\/p>\n

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Source: gov.md<\/p><\/div>\n

The delegation officials noted the need to unblock the activity of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) and to remove the infrastructure of unilateral checkpoints<\/span>, which violate the regime of the Security Zone and the rights of Moldovan citizens.<\/p>\n

See also:<\/strong> Fighting for human rights in Transnistria \u2013 using all legal means or not using them at all<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, the need to ensure the non-discriminatory exercise of the electoral right of all citizens throughout the country and abroad, during the snap elections held on July 11, was emphasised.<\/p>\n

President Maia Sandu<\/strong> discussed with the representatives of the 5 + 2 format about the principles of resolving the Transnistrian conflict, which might take place peacefully, through dialogue, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova. “I reiterated the need to formulate a vision for a political solution to the conflict. This action must be on the agenda of the next Government, appointed after the snap parliamentary elections in July “<\/em>, mentioned<\/a> the president.<\/p>\n

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Source: presedinte.md<\/p><\/div>\n

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The OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) facilitates<\/a> a three-tier negotiation process for a comprehensive and lasting political settlement of the Transdniestrian conflict. The negotiation process includes Moldova and Transnistria as the sides, the OSCE, Russia and Ukraine as the mediators, and the European Union and the United States as the observers (the 5+2 format).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Mission uses shuttle diplomacy to stimulate the dialogue between Chisinau and Tiraspol and advance the Transnistrian settlement process. It convenes meetings in the 5+2 format to mark the progress reached by the sides and establish new objectives. The work on certain confidence-building measures is agreed to be done, in order to improve the day-to-day life of students, teachers, farmers, entrepreneurs on both banks of the Dniester. Still, the mission can’t decide on the special status of the Transnistrian Region within the Republic of Moldova. That is done by the sides.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 1994, the Mission has participated as an observer in the Joint Control Commission (JCC). It gathers and provides information on the situation in the Security Zone, sharing its findings with all the delegations to the JCC and the 57 OSCE participating states.<\/span><\/p>\n

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At the same time, a so-called peacekeeping mission is also being carried out in the Transnistrian region. It is composed of several contingents: the armed forces of the Russian Federation, the armed forces of the Republic of Moldova, the Tiraspol administration forces and Ukrainian observers. Moscow keeps around 500 soldiers as part of the mission and 1 500 soldiers within the Operational Group of Russian Forces in Transnistria (OGRF) <\/strong>that still conduct over 100 military exercises each year<\/span>. About 1000 of Russian soldiers supervise the Cobasna arms depot, which is thought to house about 20 000 tons of guns and ammunition.<\/p>\n

Both the Russian Federation and the administration of the Transnistrian region insist on the effectiveness of the mission. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation<\/strong> stated<\/a> that the Russian forces “were successful in their mission”<\/em> of establishing a safety area and proceeding to peacekeeping activities, such as clearing the minefields in the areas of combat or interdicting the trafficking of arms, ammunition, explosives and drugs. What they did as well, was establishing multiple stations and checkpoints, being always militarily present in the area.<\/p>\n

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According<\/a> to Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Transnistria has the following mission:<\/span><\/p>\n