(Initially published in http://www.romania-report.ro/ - April 22, 2005)
CHISINAU, April 22 - Participants in Friday's GUUAM summit spoke in favor of compelling Russia to withdraw its troops from Moldova and Georgia and fulfill the obligations it assumed at the OSCE summit in Istanbul in 1999. This demand is contained in a document entitled "In the Name of Democracy, Stability, and Development," which was signed by the summit representatives.
The declaration was the only document the Chisinau summit participants were able to coordinate and sign. Other documents that were expected to be signed, including one concerning a settlement of the Transdniestrian conflict, were not signed due to disagreements between the summit participants.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko submitted a plan of seven measures for settling the Transdniestria conflict. The steps included the organization of elections in the self-proclaimed republic, which would be attended by international observers.
However, Romanian President Traian Basescu objected, saying elections cannot be held "in the full absence of democracy," as this could "lead to legitimating separatist enclaves within countries."
Under President's Viktor Yushchenko proposals, the Tiraspol administration should create a true democratic system, based on a multi-party parliament and having a civil society. To this end, Transnistria should conduct free and fair elections in the supreme soviet (region's parliament) in the nearest future and allow international observers monitor the ballot.
Transnistria should also change the composition of the peacekeeping troops in the region, allow organizing in Transnistria and Ukraine a short-time OSCE mission to assure the control over the border, and a monitoring mission at the armament plants in the region.
Yushchenko said that if the submitted principles are accepted, Ukraine will propose a mechanism to settle the Transnistrian conflict.
Romania Report
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