At the meeting of the EAPC at the level of Foreign Ministers Luxembourg 29 mai 1998

Statement by H.E. Mr. Nicolae Tabacaru, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, The first anniversary of the Euro-Atiantic Co-operation Council provides us with an adequate opportunity to assess our activities, and to trace certain objectives for our future co-operation. As to the progress achieved in the framework of the Partnership for Peace Programme, it has been well reflected in the papers prepared for today's meeting. We highly welcome the establishment of "The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response C apability", as well as the decisions adopted with a view to intensify political consultations and to strengthen practical co-operation in the field of security, including at a regional level. Setting the objectives for our future co-operation, we are convinced that our common goal is to be able to respond to the new risks and challenges which the Euro-Atiantic community may face at the end of this century and which might occur in the next millennium. Speaking about confidence-building and conflict prevention in the Euro-Atiantic Area, we should realise that these, by definition, constitute a fundamental task for our co-operation. If there is a wide-spread conviction that the noble objectives that we have envisaged to attain are achievable, we don't have but to concentrate our physical, intellectual and, why not, the ethical and moral potential to fight at an early stage the deep-laying causes that undermine confidence and generate conflicts. If we will apply the well-known general principles, that have either a political or a legal basis, that we all share and accept, it would be reasonable to fulfil in good faith the obligations that have been assumed in a multilateral or bilateral framework, in order to attain guaranteed results. How significant mav be our tendency to fight separatism, which often is a main cause of regional Conflicts. We should also consider as an objective, the need to work out a clear definition of the place and role of the EAPC in the new Euro-Atiantic security architecture, in order be able to respond to the question of the "raison d'etre" of this body. Stating that the EAPC is a forum for consultations and practical cooperation, that plays at the same time the linking role between the allied and partner countries, we cannot consider it a purpose in itself. It is more important that this form of co-operation brings concrete results, especially, in what concerns the settlement of regional crises. It is true that between the EAPC and the OSCE - the two bodies having the same final objectives, a traditional 4'.specialisation" has been established. At the same time, 1 believe that these two international bodies should be complementary, either in conflict prevention or in the search of post-conflict solutions. In order to reach productivity of our co-operation in the framework of the EAPC, as we all hope for it, it is important to concentrate our efforts on the solution of burning problems which some of the partner states are facing at the moment. For my country, the participation in the EAPC and the Pfp activities is not just an "academic exercise". Here we hope to meet a spirit of solidarity and support from our partners. It is of utmost importance now for us to find a political solution to the Transdniester conflict that exists already for quite some time. We still believe that the withdrawal of the troops of the Russian Federation and especially of the munitions and armaments from the Transdniester region, would be a considerable impulse for the conflict settlement, especially by diminishing the political intransigence of the separatist leaders during negotiations. The illegal paramilitary forces may get hold of the armament located in the region, it is as well a real danger for the security the entire region and for environment as well. In our opinion, it will be difficult to review the CFE Treaty, while leaving the problem of the Unaccounted for Treaty Limited Equipment (UTLE's),- that affects the national interests of several countries-parties to the Treaty, unresolved. Transdniester is not an exception among "rebel regions", it becomes a convenient place for the criminal world, facilitating, thus, the arms and drug trafficking, the "money-laundering" and other questionable activities, that have a negative impact on the security and stability in the region. Mr. Chairman, While discussing an extremely difficult problem we cannot but apply to new forces in order to solve it. This is exactly the case of my country. We believe that the EAPC might contribute in a certain w"ay, together with the present mediators - the OSCE, the Russian Federation and the Ukraine, to the process of settlement of the conflict in Moldova. We are hopeful that the support of our partners will help us to find the adequate tools for it. Thank You.