Tuesday 14 October 2008

Comanescu: EU should assume top role in solving Transdniestr conflict



Following Romania's urgent requests the European Union has sent on Monday (Oct 13) on the occasion of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting, a very strong message on its availability to get engaged in bringing the Republic of Moldova closer to the EU and in finding a solution to the conflict in Transdniestr, stated the chief of Romanian diplomacy, Lazar Comanescu.

"The substantial conclusions adopted today by the EU foreign ministers convey several strong messages. First of all, that the EU is ready to start negotiations upon a new and more ambitious agreement with the Republic of Moldova.

Secondly, the document underlined that this agreement's objective is to bringing the Republic of Moldova closer to the European Union - which, we hope, will lead in time to an association formula. And, thirdly, it emphasized the EU engagement in solving the conflict in Transdniestr", announced Minister Comanescu in front of the Romanian press.

Romania has insisted, mainly in the past months, after the war broke out in Georgia, that it is essential for the European Union to get more actively involved in finding solutions to the frozen conflicts, especially to the one in Transdniestr, on the territory of a country in its immediate neighborhood.

"The crisis in Georgia shows that the premise that time might solve all frozen conflicts is a completely wrong one and such a conflict can evolve anytime from a "frozen" to a hot one.

Therefore, the EU must pay an enhanced attention and find new mechanisms and means for solving such conflicts in the aim to ensure stability and security in the zone, Europe's security and the world's security, in general.

EU should assume a top role all the more so given that this is a frozen conflict on the territory of a state in its immediate vicinity", underlined the Romanian diplomacy chief.

As well, the document referring to the Republic of Moldova, adopted on Monday by GAERC, reaffirms the EU confidence that the "5+2" negotiations format (Russia, Ukraine and OSCE as mediators, EU and USA as observers) represents the "sole guarantee for the needed transparency and legitimacy in finding a durable solution" and reaffirms the "EU attachment to the Republic of Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

The EU foreign ministers did not overlook to remind to the authorities in Chisinau that the "nature of relations between the Republic of Moldova and the EU will be influenced by the "reform pace and quality" in this country.

In this context, the Moldovan authorities are encouraged to make every necessary effort "to consolidate the rule of law and to implement its pledge to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms".

The EU underlined, at the same time, the "special importance it attaches to the running of parliamentary elections in the Spring 2009 in a democratic manner".

The conclusions adopted today by the EU foreign ministers will be submitted to the heads of state and government, at their summit on October 15-16, which - most likely - will adopt them in the form presented by the foreign ministers.

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