Comment of the Information and Press Department of the MFA of Russia in connection with the 15th anniversary since signing Memorandum on the Bases for Normalization of Relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transnistria

This May marks the 15th anniversary of signing the Memorandum on the Bases for Normalization of Relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transnistria.

That document has special significance in the context of the task set by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation "On measures of implementing of foreign policy" for our representatives to take an active part in finding ways of solution of the Transnistrian problem on the basis of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and neutral status of the Republic of Moldova, on defining special status of Transnistria.

With this regard, the Memorandum is still very important. It set and introduced a number of notions and obligations defining interaction between the sides of the conflict, mediators in the negotiations process and international norms of relations development in the region But the most important thing was that the document specified objectives for the settlement.

The fact that during the work the sides built contacts on the basis of equality defined the logic of agreement of special status of Transnistria as a part of the Republic of Moldova. Memorandum contains notions of "legal and state relations", "mutual decision coordination" guaranteed by Kishinev and Tiraspol. The sides welcomed readiness of Russia and the Ukraine to be guarantors of mutual agreements on the basis of equality.

If we speak of essence of compromiseб it was achieved around wide autonomy of the region in compliance with the formula of fixing the statement of territorial integrity of Moldova and finding a pragmatic option to realise the identity of Transnistria.

Taking into account the high level of distrust the algorithm of the solution included coordination of mutual guarantees. The Russian mediation promoted coordination of the positions. Moscow had firm position to encourage talks, direct Moldova development towards strengthening of sovereignty, convince Transnistria leadership in possibility to ensure future for the region.

As a result of intensive contacts, experts work had the result that sides fixed the right of Transnistria to adopt the Basic law, laws and regulations, to use the Moldavian, Ukrainian and Russian languages as official ones. Negotiators moved close to elaborating of formula for the region as state and territorial formation and agreed to confirm its rights to establish and keep international relations in economy, science, technology and culture.

Besides that, the sides were convinced that the Memorandum is a stage on the way to develop agreements on building state and legal relations.

Today it gives the possibility to assess as the most important political impulse the preparation and signing of that document under which apart from the leaders of the sides the Presidents of the Russian Federation and the Ukraine and the Chairman of the OSCE put their signatures.

Negotiation efforts and following federative constitutional model of comprehensive settlement of Transnistria conflict visibly confirmed integrity and fundamental nature of the ideas set in the Memorandum structure.

Impressive in terms of its effectiveness, the negotiation process of mid 1990-s once again shows that the basis for viable solution of Transnistrian conflict can be only direct and equal agreement of the sides.

We would hope that from the stand of continuity recognition of the documents prepared after talks the analysis of today issues allows the participants of resumed official talks to move from the dead point towards true political assessments for the sake of comprehensive political settlement. As the recent history of negotiation process shows, this task can be achieved.

15 May 2012