Addressing journalists, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Miroslav Lajcak recalled that Slovakia has been chairing the OSCE since January 1. “Last week I presented our priorities in Vienna and today I am here. This is a sign of how seriously we take our role”, the diplomat said. According to him, Slovakia is counting on an effective chairmanship. Speaking about the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian settlement, the Slovak politician noted the constructive approach of the parties: “We want the 2019 to be a year of good concrete results. We had a very concrete conversation. Earlier, I listened to the interpretation of the Moldovan side. So all together gives us a picture of what problems exist and how they should be solved”.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, for his part, expressed conviction that the current Chairmanship in the OSCE would give a new impetus to the implementation of the already signed agreements and the achievement of new ones, which would not allow the 2019 to become a “passing year”. “We need to think about implementation of the results of solving problems into reality, so that people use them as norms. We are talking about logistics, economy, humanitarian issues – about everything that is connected with the quiet stable life of people. Pridnestrovie is constructive and becomes a zone of stability, demonstrating the ability to reach agreements even in very difficult conditions – of course, with the help of our colleagues, including the OSCE Mission”, the PMR President emphasized.
Representatives of the mass media asked about specific areas of work, in particular, about telecommunications, banking, and prospects for closure of politically motivated criminal cases this year. “The Moldovan and Pridnestrovian parties have to negotiate. And we are ready and determined to help. I hope that the work will continue, and we will see concrete results. We are ready to convene the next meeting in the 5+2 format, when we have the prospect of achieving something concrete. I would like that to happen until summer, but it all depends on the willingness of the parties. We should not meet, if there is nothing to agree on. That would be a bad sign. I think that all participants of the process understand that we have a good moment, a good atmosphere, there is more confidence than two years ago, and this should be maintained”, said Miroslav Lajcak.
Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized that telecommunications and criminal cases are two areas, where controversial issues are about to be resolved. As for the banking sector, this is a new segment of the negotiation agenda: additional consultations are needed at the level of expert (working) groups, the PMR President noted.
Journalists were also interested in the expected frequency of 5+2 meetings this year. The OSCE Chairman indicated readiness to convene the format as many times as necessary subject to the availability of an agenda.
Slovak journalists asked Vadim Krasnoselsky about the prospects for a comprehensive settlement of the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian conflict and the likelihood of the unification of the republics. “Good question. Each side has its own vision of the end of the confrontation between Moldova and Pridnestrovie. In Moldova, it is integration, and in Pridnestrovie – recognition of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic as an independent state. We insist on it and fulfill the will of the people, which was expressed in the referendum. We see a resolution of the conflict by recognizing Pridnestrovian statehood”, Vadim Krasnoselsky replied, expressing confidence that Pridnestrovie will be a recognized state.
Today they also discussed the fact that Franco Frattini retained the post of OSCE Special Representative for the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian settlement. Mr. Lajcak, commenting on this decision, called Franco Frattini an experienced politician with strong Italian support, who demonstrated the efficient activity in this post. Vadim Krasnoselsky also spoke about the effectiveness of his participation in the negotiation process.
Another traditional theme in journalistic conversations is peacekeeping. The President of Pridnestrovie recalled that the Russian soldier is on the territory of Pridnestrovie in accordance with the 1992 agreement on the peaceful resolution of the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian conflict. “This format, in which Russian, Pridnestrovian and Moldovan peacekeepers participate, as well as observers from Ukraine, has proved its effectiveness for 26 years. As a result of peacekeeping, there has been not a single armed incident, not a single peacekeeper, not a single civilian has been killed. Peace still remains on our territory. As long as the conflict is not resolved, we will not talk about the withdrawal of peacekeepers from the territory of Pridnestrovie”, the PMR President noted.
Returning to the question of existing agreements, Slovak journalists asked whether their achievement could be considered an indicator of progress in relations between the parties. In this regard Vadim Krasnoselsky once again reminded of the compromise atmosphere existing now in the negotiation process. As a positive example he cited the apostilization of diplomas of the Pridnestrovian State University, introduction of license plates of a neutral design, closure of issues about the functioning of Latin script schools and located in the Dubossary district agricultural lands. “This is a movement towards each other. And maybe sooner or later we will all understand that everything is good – agreements are working, mechanisms are operating, economies are functioning... What else is needed for the life of people? Perhaps, the subjective recognition of the two territories. What prevents two nations from living close in a common family of European nations? Nothing. The main thing is to preserve peace. That’s what we are up to,” concluded Vadim Krasnoselsky.
