Statement on Transnistria Conflict Settlement Talks

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

PC.DEL/1278/05 22 December 2005 ENGLISH only United States Mission to the OSCE Statement on Transnistria Conflict Settlement Talks As delivered by Ambassador Julie Finley to the Permanent Council, Vienna December 22, 2005 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Like the European Union, the United States also participated as an observer in the latest round of Transnistria conflict settlement talks that took place in Moldova December 15th and 16th. Unfortunately, the results of this round were disappointing. There was virtually no progress achieved, due mainly to the obstructive attitude adopted by the Transnistrian side. The next round of talks, scheduled for January 26th and 27th in Moldova, will be an opportunity for the sides to reinvigorate their efforts and to demonstrate that they take the negotiations seriously. In particular, we call on the Transnistrian side to comply with both the spirit and words of the protocols from the two previous rounds in the 5 plus 2 format and provide complete military data to the OSCE as soon as possible. We look forward to reviewing the OSCE Mission's plan for a mission to assess prospects for free and fair democratic elections in the Transnistrian region, and we hope that early 2006 will see real progress on proposals to monitor Transnistria's military-industrial enterprises and to transform and internationalize the peacekeeping forces. Mr. Chairman, nothing would help the settlement process more tangibly than for the Russian Federation to resume the withdrawal of its forces from Moldovan territory in fulfillment of its 1999 Istanbul Summit commitment. The United States again reiterates its full support for a peaceful settlement to this conflict that fully respects Moldova's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We would also like to thank the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Bill Hill, for his steady leadership and unwavering commitment to a settlement. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Obersteinergasse 11/1 Vienna, Austria A-1190 Tel: (+43-1) 31339-3201 Fax: (+43-1) 31339-3255 [email protected] Page 1 of 1 http://osce.usmission.gov .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

14. Conventional Arms Control
14. Conventional arms control ZDZISLAW LACHOWSKI and MARTIN SJÖGREN I. Introduction The year 2006 marked the seventh ‘lean year’ since the signing of the 1999 Agreement on Adaptation of the 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty), and no signs of further progress were evident at the Third CFE Treaty Review Conference in May. The ‘hard’ conventional arms control regime remains stalled by disagreements between Russia and the West over political texts adopted at the 1999 Istanbul Summit of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).1 As a result, entry into force of the adapted CFE Treaty remains hostage to the completion of Russia’s promised military pullouts from Georgia and Moldova.2 The March 2006 Russia–Georgia agreement, supplementing their 2005 agreement on the with- drawal of Russian military bases and other facilities from Georgia, indicated further progress in the withdrawal process, but deadlock persists over Russian personnel and equipment in Moldova. In 2006 the OSCE continued to review and develop arms control-related endeavours, including confidence- and stability-building measures and other arrangements, to address the common risks and challenges facing Europe. Globally, progress on tackling ‘inhumane weapons’ continues, and Protocol V of the 1981 Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Convention on explosive remnants of war (ERW) entered into force.3 This chapter analyses the major issues and developments in conventional arms control in 2006. Section II discusses critical elements of the imple- mentation of the CFE Treaty. Arms control-related efforts to promote con- fidence, render assistance and foster stability in the OSCE area and elsewhere are addressed in section III.
[Show full text]
The CFE Treaty One Year After Its Suspension: a Forlorn Treaty?, SIPRI
SIPRI Policy Brief January 2009 THE CFE TREATY ONE YEAR SUMMARY w The prolonged crisis over the AFTER ITS SUSPENSION: 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe is a A FORLORN TREATY? refl ection of the wider spectrum of strategic, political, military and other issues that zdzislaw lachowski divide the OSCE community of states rather than a specifi c confl ict in its own right. On 12 December 2007 the Russian Federation offi cially declared that it The main protagonists— would no longer be bound by the restrictions under the 1990 Treaty on Con- Russia, the United States and ventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty). Russia explained its deci- NATO—share the guilt for the sion as being motivated by the treaty’s ‘divorce from reality’. Nonetheless, present confrontation and all of Russia assured the other parties to the treaty that it had no plans to build up them risk losing from it. Russia or concentrate heavy armaments on its borders. Over shadowed by other has ignored its political developments in Euro-Atlantic relations, the Russian ‘moratorium’ has commitments; the USA has long attracted little public attention and, consequently, the possible solutions to demonstrated its disinterest the issue have gathered little momentum. Now, one year after the suspen- and treated the CFE regime as a sion, it is time to reassess the condition and prospects of the CFE regime. pawn in the broader political Acclaimed as the ‘cornerstone of European security’, the CFE Treaty game with Russia. The European NATO states have regime remains by far the most elaborate conventional arms control regime aligned themselves with the worldwide.
[Show full text]
Guarantee Options for a Settlement of the Conflict Over Transnistria
Guarantee Options for a Settlement of the Conflict over Transnistria Stefan Wolff ECMI WORKING PAPER #51 November 2011 ECMI- Working Paper The European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) is a non-partisan institution founded in 1996 by the Governments of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the German State of Schleswig-Holstein. ECMI was established in Flensburg, at the heart of the Danish-German border region, in order to draw from the encouraging example of peaceful coexistence between minorities and majorities achieved here. ECMI’s aim is to promote interdisciplinary research on issues related to minorities and majorities in a European perspective and to contribute to the improvement of interethnic relations in those parts of Western and Eastern Europe where ethnopolitical tension and conflict prevail. ECMI Working Papers are written either by the staff of ECMI or by outside authors commissioned by the Centre. As ECMI does not propagate opinions of its own, the views expressed in any of its publications are the sole responsibility of the author concerned. ECMI Working Paper European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) Director: Dr. Tove H. Malloy © ECMI 2011 2 | P a g e ECMI- Working Paper Guarantee Options for a Settlement of the Conflict over Transnistria Any meaningful consideration of guarantee options requires some assumptions about the nature of the underlying settlement. With this in mind, the following discussion draws on comparative experience in two ways. First, it considers the nature of the conflict over Transnistria in a broader context of similar conflicts elsewhere in order to establish the likely dimensions of a settlement.
[Show full text]
The EU and Transnistria UNISCI Discussion Papers, Núm
UNISCI Discussion Papers ISSN: 1696-2206 [email protected] Universidad Complutense de Madrid España Popescu, Nico The EU and Transnistria UNISCI Discussion Papers, núm. 10, enero, 2006, pp. 247-254 Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid, España Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=76701015 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative UNISCI DISCUSSION PAPERS Nº 10 (Enero / January 2006) THE EU AND TRANSNISTRIA AUTHOR:1 NICO POPESCU Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), Brussels Introduction EU thinking, assessments and policies towards the conflict in Transnistria have evolved quickly. The turning point towards a more active role occurred in late 2002. Since then, the EU has stepped up its attention and actions. The EU now raises constantly the Transnistria issue in relations with Russia and Ukraine. The Union has also used an array of CFSP instruments to support the conflict resolution process – these have included appointing a EU Special Representative, introducing a travel ban against the Transnistrian leadership, as well as envisaging common actions under its ENP Action Plans with Moldova and Ukraine on conflict resolution in Transnistria. 1. Why More EU Engagement? First, because of enlargement. A 2002 Commission paper on EU approaches to Moldova stated: ‘Moldova’s stability clearly matters to the EU. Within a few years, Moldova will be on the borders of an enlarged EU. It has been destabilised by weak government, armed conflict and secession, near economic collapse, organised crime and emigration […] The EU needs to help Moldova address these problems’2.
[Show full text]
The Role of Germany in the Transnistria Conflict
Przegląd Strategiczny 2020, Issue 13 Bogdan KOSZEL DOI : 10.14746/ps.2020.1.7 Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7118-3057 THE ROLE OF GERMANY IN THE TRANSNISTRIA CONFLICT HISTORIC BACKGROUND The territory of Transnistria is a special enclave on the left bank of the Dniester River, with cultural and historical traditions markedly different than those in neighbor- ing Moldova. The Ottoman conquests, followed by the partitioning of Poland, made the Dniester a river marking the border between the Russian and Turkish empires. When Turkey grew weaker in the international arena and Russia grew stronger after its victory over Napoleon, the territory – known as Bessarabia – fell under Russian rule until 1918, to be embraced by Greater Romania after the collapse of tsarism (Lubicz- Miszewski, 2012: 121–122). After the Soviet Union was formally established in 1922, the Moscow government immediately began to question the legality of Bessarabia’s inclusion within Romania and never accepted this annexation. In 1924, the Moldovan Autonomous Socialist So- viet Republic (MASSR) was established on the left bank of the Dniester as an integral part of the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic. Before World War II, Germany showed no interest in this region of Europe, believ- ing that this territory was a zone of influence of its ally, the Austro-Hungarian mon- archy, and then of the Soviet Union. In the interwar period, Romania was a member of the French system of eastern alliances (Little Entente) and Berlin, which supported Hungarian revisionist sentiments, held no esteem for Bucharest whatsoever. At the time of the Weimar Republic, Romania became interested in German capital and ob- taining a loan from the Wolff concern to develop their railroads, but Germany shunned any binding declarations (Koszel, 1987: 64).
[Show full text]
Response to the Report by the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Ambassador Michael Scanlan
PC.DEL/1538/17 16 November 2017 ENGLISH only United States Mission to the OSCE Response to the Report by the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Ambassador Michael Scanlan As delivered by Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. Michele Siders to the Permanent Council, Vienna November 16, 2017 Thank you, Mr. Chair. The United States warmly welcomes you, Ambassador Scanlan, to the Permanent Council. Thank you for your substantive report on the work of the OSCE Mission to Moldova in support of achieving progress in the 5+2 settlement process, as well as Moldova’s reform agenda. The United States is a strong supporter of the output-based 5+2 process, and joined consensus on a Ministerial Council declaration in Hamburg last year endorsing this approach. We welcome the recent agreement by the sides on November 3 to reopen the Gura Bicului- Bychok bridge across the Nistru river and congratulate both sides on this achievement. This bridge will facilitate greater trade, thereby improving the lives of ordinary people, and symbolically help stitch the country together. The November 3 agreement also shows that substantive progress can be made when there is political will to do so. Both sides should capitalize on this political will and translate public commitments to the settlement process into additional concrete actions that could generate tangible results, before the end of this year. In this light, we call on the sides to build on this momentum and make progress on other confidence building measures in the “Package of Eight,” before the next 5+2 meeting in Vienna on November 27.
[Show full text]
The 1999 OSCE Istanbul Summit Decisions on Moldova and Georgia: Prospects for Implementation
Kennan Institute Occasional Paper #284 The 1999 OSCE Istanbul Summit Decisions on Moldova and Georgia: Prospects for Implementation The Kennan Institute The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars The Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies is a division of the Woodrow Wil- son International Center for Scholars. Through its programs of residential scholarships, meetings, and publications, the Institute encourages scholarship on the former Soviet Union, embracing a broad range of fields in the social sciences and humanities. The Kennan Institute is supported by contributions from foundations, corporations, indi- viduals, and the United States Government. Kennan Institute Occasional Papers The Kennan Institute makes Occasional Papers available to all those interested. Occa- sional Papers are submitted by Kennan Institute scholars and visiting speakers. Copies of Occasional Papers and a list of papers currently available can be obtained free of charge by contacting: Occasional Papers Kennan Institute One Woodrow Wilson Plaza 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20004-3027 (202) 691-4100 This Occasional Paper has been produced with support provided by the Program for Research and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union of the U.S. Department of State (funded by the Soviet and East European Research and Training Act of 1983, or Title VIII). We are most grateful to this sponsor. The views expressed in Kennan Institute Occasional Papers are those of the authors. © December 2002 Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute Named in honor of Ambassador Kennan’s relative, George Kennan “the Elder,” a nineteenth-century explorer of Russia and Siberia, the Kennan Institute is commited to improving American expertise and knowledge about the former Soviet Union.
[Show full text]
The OSCE and Roma1
July 13, 2018 IN BRIEF The OSCE and Roma1 Roma are the largest ethnic minority in Europe and are present in most of the participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Eu- rope. Concentrated in post-communist Central and Southern Europe, the Romani population is esti- mated at over 12 million in EU countries, with sig- nificant numbers in former Soviet republics, the Balkans, and Turkey. Roma have been part of every wave of European immigration to North American since the colonial period. There may be as many as one million Americans with Romani an- cestry. The First International Commitments Relating Roma have historically faced persecution in Eu- to Roma and Human Rights rope and were the victims of genocide during The 1990 OSCE Copenhagen Document was the World War II. In post-communist countries, Roma first international agreement to recognize explicitly suffered disproportionately in the transition from the human rights problems faced by Roma. In ad- command- to market-economies, in part due to en- dition to advancing human rights commitments, the demic racism and discrimination. Copenhagen Document included historic provi- sions relating to free and fair elections, the rule of Over the past three decades, Helsinki Commission- law, independence of the judiciary, and other ele- ers have led the effort in Washington to condemn ments of democracy. Upon its adoption, leading racially motivated violence against Roma, includ- experts on international human rights law hailed it ing pogroms, murders, other violent attacks, and as a new Magna Carta. police abuse. The Helsinki Commission has also advocated for recognition of the enslavement and The Copenhagen Document also included a spe- genocide of Roma and redress for sterilization cific reference to anti-Semitism.
[Show full text]
Recent Developments in the Field of Arms Control and Confidence- and Security-Building Measures
In: IFSH (ed.), OSCE Yearbook 2011, Baden-Baden 2012, pp. 201-223. Pierre von Arx Recent Developments in the Field of Arms Control and Confidence- and Security-Building Measures The Interlocking Web of Arms Control Arrangements The participating States of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have succeeded in establishing a unique set of complemen- tary, mutually reinforcing arms control arrangements, thus creating a culture of openness and transparency between states. The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty), the Vienna Document (VD) on the Negotiations on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures (CSBMs), and the Open Skies Treaty have been key instruments for ensuring military pre- dictability, verifiability, stability, and transparency within the OSCE area. Together with the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security and regional and bilateral CSBMs, they form a solid and unique acquis of principles and commitments in the politico-military sphere. This web is cru- cial for the security of all participating States, irrespective of whether they are parties to a specific arrangement or not. Preserving, strengthening, and mod- ernizing this acquis, while ensuring full and equal compliance with all the commitments it entails, remains vital for achieving military stability, security, and co-operation. However, negotiations on two of these three key instruments have cur- rently reached a stalemate. The 2011 Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC), held from 29 June to 1 July 2011, confirmed the recent political dif- ficulties encountered with the Open Skies Treaty at the Opens Skies Con- sultative Commission, the enduring deadlock of the CFE Treaty, and the im- passe of the discussions on a “Framework for Negotiations to Strengthen and Modernize the Conventional Arms Control Regime in Europe”.
[Show full text]
Support to Confidence Building Measures Susținerea Măsurilor De Promovare a Încrederii Поддержка Мер По Укреплению Доверия
This Programme is funded by the European Union, co-funded and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme Support to Confidence Building Measures Susținerea Măsurilor de Promovare a Încrederii Поддержка мер по укреплению доверия PROJECTS CARRIED OUT OR ONGOING IN THE FRAMEWORK OF "SUPPORT TO CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES" PROGRAMME (MARCH 2012- MARCH 2015) No Project title Budget, EUR Sector Implementing partners Implementation period/Expected dates Creating a sustainable system of business education in Transnistria for beginner Consortium of Chamber of Commerce July 2012 – June 2014 Business 1 entrepreneurs, mid-level managers and 455,500 of Transnistria and SGS Company Development CEOs, as well as creating a sustainable pool Moldova of local business trainers July 2012 – April 2013 Chamber of Commerce of Moldova in Joint business trips to EU for Business 14-18 October – trip to Poland 2 106,300 partnership with Moldovan/Transnistrian entrepreneurs Development November 2012 – Austria “Intereconomiservice” of Transnistria March 2013 - Germany Business consulting services for companies Chamber of Commerce of Moldova in September 2012 – July 2013 Business 3 from Moldova and the Transnistrian region 33,500 partnership with Development “Intereconomiservice” of Transnistria Market Survey of the Microfinance sector Research company "International July – November 2012 and feasibility study creating a microfinance Business Development Alternatives" from 4 37,400 facility in the Transnistrian region Development Moldova in partnership
[Show full text]
FROZEN CONFLICTS' the Challenges of Reconciliation Table of Contents Features
per ConcordiamJournal of European Security and Defense Issues EMERGENCY RESPONSE POST-SOVIET SPACE Civil-military links a must Old approach won’t help define borders BALANCING THE BALKANS PLUS Pillars of progress eroding New Afghan momentum Croatia hosts special forces UNRESOLVED CONFLICTS Further from resolution than ever? Olympic security effort RESOLVING 'FROZEN CONFLICTS' The Challenges of Reconciliation Table of Contents features ON THE COVER Protracted, or “frozen,” conflicts present a challenge to stability and security. Moving Answering away from the status quo while protecting 18 against the potential of renewed violence the distress call is not a simple endeavor. Finding common Civil-military cooperation is a ground upon which all parties can agree has must in emergency response to proven a nearly impossible task. man-made and natural disasters. 26 A balanced view of the Balkans Some believe the Balkan conflict p. is over, but others warn it is on 10 the brink of erupting again. The myth of 'frozen conflicts' 32 Resolving post-Soviet Regional and international support for stabilization could lead to lasting solutions 'frozen conflicts' Cover illustration: per Concordiam staff in places such as the South Caucasus. A strong foundation must be in place for effective regional integration. 38 Russia and the post-Soviet space Taking other interests into account will help Moscow regain a leadership role. 2 perConcordiam p.52 departments 4 Director's Letter 5 Contributors 6 In This Issue 7 Letters to the Editor 8 Viewpoint 64 Book Review 66 Calendar COOPERATION SECURITY POLICY 44 On Corruption's 52 Olympic effort 60 Kazakhstan faces Front Lines Nations collaborate to secure OSCE hurdles Reforms help Tajikistan international sporting events.
[Show full text]
Post-Conflict Rehabilitation Ef- Forts in Transnistria Have to Take Into Account Two Key Features That Char- Acterize the Situation in Moldova
9.c. Post Conflict Rehabilitation in Moldova Nicu Popescu Introduction Since declaring independence in 1991 Moldova has had to face four ma- jor interdependent tasks: building a state, without any tradition of it; managing political transition; restructuring the economy and dealing with the secessionist conflict with its eastern region Transnistria. There has been some progress on the first two dimensions. Moldova has man- aged to assert itself as a state, despite many problems, and democracy has achieved a level, however unstable and modest that is not very often seen in the post-Soviet space. However, the slow pace of economic re- form, the difficult economic situation, and the still unsolved conflict in Transnistria have a tendency to influence negatively some of the positive achievements in the political realm. As noted in the EU’s Country Strat- egy Paper on Moldova: ‘The Transnistrian dispute heavily affects Moldova's foreign relations and economic development. Moldova can only make limited progress towards democratic consolidation and eco- nomic improvements as long as the Transnistrian issue continues’ 222 . Thus, overcoming the Transnistria conflict remains one of the keys to Moldova’s successful transition and the stabilization of the immediate neighborhood of the enlarged NATO and EU. The Transnistrian conflict in Moldova presents a case where post- conflict rehabilitation takes place after a war, but before the terms of a mutually satisfactory peace are agreed. Post-conflict rehabilitation ef- forts in Transnistria have to take into account two key features that char- acterize the situation in Moldova. Firstly, while the active phase of the conflict has ended, there is no agreement between the conflicting parties on the resolution of the conflict and the status of Transnistria.
[Show full text]