30 years since the beginning of the negotiation process between Pridnestrovie and the Republic of Moldova

“30 years since the launch of the political process between Pridnestrovie and the Republic of Moldova: history and current state” international conference was held at the Pridnestrovian State University named after Taras Shevchenko.

A statement was signed on April 28, 1994 in the presence of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation and a representative of the OSCE Mission, by the leaders of Moldova and Pridnestrovie, according to which the parties agreed to “immediately and without preconditions” begin the process of negotiations on the entire range of issues of mutual interest.

The international conference dedicated to the start of the negotiation process took place all week. An open lecture was held on April 22 at the Pridnestrovian State University by the First President of the PMR Igor Smirnov, who signed the statement on the start of negotiations 30 years ago. It provided for the removal of barriers that impeded the normal implementation of economic and socio-cultural ties, the establishment of ties in the economic, trade, financial and other spheres.

The First President of the PMR noted that the parties agreed 30 years ago on the need to determine the state legal status of Pridnestrovie and create a system of mutual guarantees, including international ones, for the full and unconditional implementation of all agreements.

An expert round table was held and an open lecture was given by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Vitaly Ignatiev within the framework of the international conference in the following days.

A plenary meeting of the conference was held on April 26, which was attended by representatives of the Pridnestrovian State University, deputies of the Supreme Council of the PMR Galina Antyufeyeva and Andrey Safonov, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PMR Vitaly Ignatiev, co-chairs of the Joint Control Committee from the Russian Federation and the PMR Alexander Andreev and Oleg Belyakov, experts and political scientists from Russia and Pridnestrovie.

Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Galina Antyufeyeva, noting the importance of the political document signed 30 years ago, read out the welcoming address of the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Alexander Korshunov to the conference participants.

Alexander Korshunov emphasized that Pridnestrovie has built its own state and chosen its own path over the years of independence, but geopolitical vectors different from Moldova should not hinder the peaceful advancement of the negotiation process.

The PMR Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev noted in his speech that the peacekeeping operation on the Dniester is the basis of the negotiations. But there is no alternative to a peaceful settlement, and now the negotiation process is at a freezing point due to Chisinau’s position.

Vitaly Ignatiev noted that a huge diplomatic experience has been accumulated between Moldova and Pridnestrovie, which will give positive results and significantly affect the daily life of both the residents of Pridnestrovie and the residents of neighboring Moldova if put into practice.

Co-chairman of the Joint Control Commission from the Russian Federation Alexander Andreev recalled the importance of another document signed in 1995, which made it possible to normalize the situation and begin a political dialogue, and which is now being violated by Moldova. This is the Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Security Guarantees of July 5, 1995, in which Moldova and Pridnestrovie committed themselves “not to use military force, political, economic and other forms of pressure in mutual relations”.

Political scientist, deputy of the Supreme Council of the PMR Andrei Safonov made a report. He noted that a nationalist dictatorship has been established in Moldova, the goal of which is to tear Moldova away from the CIS, as well as to suppress Gagauzia and Pridnestrovie.

“30 years since the launch of the political process between Pridnestrovie and the Republic of Moldova: history and current state” international conference plenary session continued with presentations by Russian and Pridnestrovian political scientists and experts.