Mikhail Kamynin, the Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Answers a Media Question Regarding the Trip of a Russian Interagency Group to Transnistria

Unofficial translation from Russian

Question: Owing to the situation brought about by the imposition by Moldova and Ukraine of a new customs regime for foreign economic activity of Transnistria, an interagency group went to the region involving representatives of the Security Council, the Apparatus of the Government, the Foreign Ministry and other Russian agencies. Today it came back to Moscow. What can you say about the outcome of this trip?

Answer: The interagency group was tasked to study the situation on the ground. Meetings with the leadership of Transnistria, members of public organizations representing the interests of the multinational people of Transnistria, the command and personnel of the peacekeepers, and entrepreneurs facilitated this effort. The conditions at the customs points of the Transnistrian section of the Moldovan-Ukrainian border were substantively explored.

There were confirmed the fears of the Russian side, which it had repeatedly conveyed to Chisinau and Kyiv, regarding the dangers inherent in the toughening of the customs regime. It is relevant to recall here that in the Joint Statement of the Presidents of the Russian Federation and Ukraine of December 15, 2005, the task of rendering assistance in shaping a climate of trust and of reducing confrontation between the parties in conflict was set as one of the main objectives. The current action stands in direct contradiction with this goal.

It should be noted that the toughening of Ukraine's position occurred immediately after the European Union Troika's ministerial meeting with Ukraine held on March 3 this year.

The interagency group had an opportunity to see for themselves that following the shutdown of enterprises and irregularities in the functioning of life support systems and in cargo and passenger transportation the region may soon be plunged into humanitarian disaster. Ukraine's buildup of its troops at the border crossings is also worrying. All of this takes place against the background of an obviously coordinated campaign to accuse Transnistria of "self-isolation and an attempt to hinder settlement."

It seems that the current situation, which attempts are being made to present as "technical measures to improve customs procedures," was from the very beginning planned as a political action to economically strangle the region. Ukraine as a mediator country and guarantor has together with the other initiators of this action departed from a well-balanced approach towards solving the Transnistrian problem.

A course has been taken towards scuttling the Moscow Memorandum of 1997, which for nearly ten years provided the environment for Transnistria's normal economic activity and helped create necessary political prerequisites for a settlement. A scenario is thus actually being implemented for non-recognition of Transnistria as a party to the negotiating process and for departure from the basic principles of the OSCE in conflict settlement.

The Russian side is considering the Transnistrian leadership's appeals to take necessary measures to normalize the situation in the region. In this case the most important task is to prevent a further escalation of tension in this region of unresolved conflict.

March 9, 2006