Moscow opposed to changing 5+2 formula of Transdniestria settlement
MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - The United States and the European Union should be observers, not mediators in the Transdniestria settlement because solely Tiraspol and Chisinau can find a solution for the problem, the Russian Foreign Ministry posted a statement on its website.
"All other participants of the talks can only assist these searches and guarantee the implementation of compromises reached. Naturally, the process of political talks, as any live process, can be subject to transformation. But, firstly, consensus of all participants is needed for this, secondly, is it time now - when contacts between the parties just start giving first results - to discuss the issues of the participants' status, in other words, the issue of prestige and form, not contents?" the document said.
This is a response to the interview of Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Yevgeny Karpov given on a Moldovan TV channel on March 4, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "Studying parts of this interview evokes mixed feelings - it is not common in international practice to cover in such detail the stances of participants of multi-party negotiations. This is especially strange to be heard from Mr. Karpov, who always urged for restraint in relations with mass media," the statement said.
"As of today, Moldova decided for itself on the issue of their political future for Transdniestria. The vision of this future Chisinau has is in the law on main provisions of a special legal status of settlements of left-bank Dnieper (Transdniestria)," passed by the Moldovan parliament almost anonymously on July 22, 2005. Amid the conditions, when one of the parties has already resolved the issue for itself, all discussions on this topic resemble too much the disputes of medieval scholiasts on how many devils can the top of a needle have. It should be noted that the Russian representatives are ready to start discussing the issues of the 'third basket' next day after Moldova cancels the named law," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"The idea to increase the status of the EU and US at talks from observers to mediators has been voiced repeatedly. The negotiating format of constant discussion on political issues in the framework of the negotiating process on the Transdniestria settlement, named in-short the 5+2 format, formed not just amid certain historical, political and practical reasons, it also has its own inner philosophy, on the basis of which a viable decision can be found solely by the equal conflict parties - Moldova and Transdniestria," the statement said.
According to parts of Karpov's interview posted in the Internet, Karpov said that it should be concluded with regret that Russia and Transdniestria meet with resistance and opposition in Moldova's sincere wish to change the status of the U.S. and EU from observers to mediators.
It is witnessed today what it means to raise a voice in the conversation between the West and the East, Karpov was quoted as saying. Ukraine and Ukrainian people are suffering and it should be acknowledged that Tiraspol starts thinking of what consequences the situation in Ukraine will have for Moldova, he said. With such an example in front of the eyes and seeing how easily the tension in the region escalates, Moldova should realize that its priority task is not to react to provocations, Karpov said. Tiraspol should take steps able to stop the provocative actions and not get involved in conflicts with serious consequences for the national and regional security, Karpov said.
The talks, the first ones in 2014, on the Transdniestria settlement were held in the 5+2 format in Vienna in February 27-28. Participants of the meeting have signed a protocol ensuring free movement for Transdniestria residents. The political dialog between Chisinau and Tiraspol will continue in Vienna in April.
