Moldova.org - Falls Church, VA, USA
The 13th OSCE Ministerial Council in Ljubljana ended without adopting a Final Resolution for the third time already. Russia used its right to veto on this document, refusing to promise they will start the withdrawal of their military presence from Moldova and Georgia.
The OSCE acting chairman Dmitrij Rupel was cited by AFP as saying that the agreement
on this document was not reached because of Russia’s refusal to promise
it will withdraw its military presence from Moldova and Georgia.
At the end of the meeting, Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan voiced
regret that because of one member state the adoption of the Final Resolution
and even the adoption of a Resolution for Moldova was hindered.
He said Moldova is strongly determined to find a political solution for the
Transdniestrian crisis, a solution based on the sovereignty and independence
of Moldova. Moreover, this solution will be worked out on the basis of the principles
set by the Parliament on July 22 and will offer the Transdniestrian region the
status of autonomy within Moldova.
Stratan emphasized that Tiraspol’s destabilizing actions against the
inhabitants of the Security Zone must be condemned by the international community.
The head of the Moldovan diplomacy reiterated the necessity of making the peacekeeping
format in the Security Zone international and voiced concern over the adjourning
of the OSCE inspection of the military depots from the left bank of the Dniester.
“The monitoring of the military enterprises located on the left bank of
Dniester must be hastened,” he added.
Stratan appealed to the Russian side to withdraw its military presence from
Transdniestria in line with the commitments made in Istanbul in 1999.
The OSCE Ministerial Councils from 2003 and 2004 concluded without adopting
a Final Resolution because of Russia’s refusal to sign the document.
According to Vitali Portnikov, analysts for Radio Svoboda, Russia will start
fulfilling the commitment made in Istanbul only when it is sure of the loyalty
of the countries these agreements concern. Portnikov told the radio station
Free Europe that Russia will accept implementing the Istanbul agreements only
when “it is assured by the Georgian and Moldovan authorities that they
will promote an active pro-Russian policy, will not manifest devotion to the
Euro-Atlantic vector and will not hinder the existence of secessionist regimes.
“Until then Russia can only take measures to change the Tbilisi and Chisinau
leaderships that are disloyal to it by using different political and economic
levers or by supporting the self-claimed republics,” Portnikov said.
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