Åre, Sweden 25 May 2005

Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) Security Forum Address by Mrs. Eugenia Kistruga, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova for the Panel “Addressing Europe's unresolved conflicts” Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, Dear colleagues, The recent parliamentary elections provided for a political climate that is extremely favourable for achieving Moldova's strategic objective of European integration and of enhancing cooperation with Euro-Atlantic structures. All of the parliamentary factions have committed to work together in order to bring Moldova closer to the European Union, to promoting a common position for the peaceful settlement of the transnistrian conflict, to strengthen democratic institutions. We wish to fully take advantage of the potential of cooperation within the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and I am convinced that using the new opportunities provided by the Security Forum will essentially contribute to the consolidation of security of the EAPC participants. Cooperation with NATO is the best way in which Moldova can join the efforts of the international community aimed at constructing a common system of Euro-Atlantic stability and security. The real issues we are tackling, such as terrorism, separatism, organized crime, trafficking in human beings, corruption, smuggling - have to be solved in common, since they represent a clear threat for the democratic essence of our countries. The problem of separatism in the Republic of Moldova regretfully became one of the frozen conflicts in Europe and continues to remain an extremely negative phenomenon, which undermines the system of stability and security in South-east Europe. In fact, we are talking about a conflict fuelled by neo-imperialistic interests entangled with those of the mafia type separatist clique from Tiraspol. It is obvious that the existing negotiation format will not provide for the settlement of this problem. At the same time, the issues dealing with the format, the stabilization forces and the international monitoring of the Moldovan-Ukrainian border deal with the external dimension of the transnistrian problem and must be decided without the participation of the anti-constitutional, anti-democratic and criminal regime from Tiraspol. The settlement model must enshrine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and provide for an autonomy status for the transnistrian region as part of the Moldovan state. The armed forces of the Russian Federation which continue to be illegally stationed on the territory of the Republic of Moldova are a factor of pressure in the negotiation process and provide for the perpetuation of separatism. The Republic of Moldova call on the Russian Federation to fully withdraw, unconditionally, complete and without delay its armed forces from the Republic of Moldova. The so-called "peace keeping operation" presently deployed in the separatist region does not correspond to universal standards of peace keeping and contributes to the consolidation of the separatist regime. We believe that in this phase of the conflict it is necessary to deploy a multinational stabilization force in accordance with existing standards. The international monitoring of the Moldovan-U1aainian border, especially of its transnistrian segment, would constitute a radical contribution to the settlement of the transnistrian problem by placing the activity of the region's economic agents in conformity with the legislation of the Republic of Moldova and our international commitments. Moldova believes that the transnistrian problem is an issue of regional security and it requires a close cooperation first of all between the Republic of Moldova and its neighbours - Romania and Ukraine, as well as with the participation of the new actors as ED and USA. In the present in Moldova the Ukrainian initiatives on the identification of a solution for the transnistrian problem are stading very carefully . In the same time any opinions from the international community on this issue are very welcome. In this context, I would like to mentioned that democratisation is the necessary element which could help to bring in the region the recognised values and democratic principals. In conclusion I would like to wish success to the new EAPC Security Forum and to thank the Swedish authorities for the excellent organization of this event. Thank you.