958th meeting – 15 March 2006

Item 2.1b

Current political questions

b.         Other questions

The Representative of Moldova made the following statement:

“I would like to refer to an issue which has been widely discussed in the last week – the Joint Declaration of the Moldovan and Ukrainian Prime Ministers on the transit of goods through the Moldovan-Ukrainian border, signed on 30 December 2005, which became effective on 3 March 2006. The Yekhanurov-Tarlev agreement stipulates that exports originating in Transnistria (to Ukraine or via Ukraine) can only enter the Ukrainian territory if they are accompanied by Moldovan customs stamps and relevant documents; and that imports bound for Transnistria (from or via Ukraine) can only enter Transnistria through Moldovan customs checkpoints, which are situated on Moldovan-controlled territory.  Furthermore, Transnistria-based companies must register with Chişinǎu's authorities and obtain Moldovan certificates and licenses in order to perform legal export-import operations.

The mechanism of carrying out this joint declaration represents, in fact, practical implementation of the bilateral Customs Protocol of 15 May 2003.

In the context of numerous declarations and emotional comments from the Russian and Transnistrian authorities containing accusations against Moldova on the so-called “economic blockade of Transnistria” and the sudden introduction of the new regime for the transit of goods, some clarifications on this issue seem to be necessary.

The common actions undertaken by the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine on the frontiers have shown our determination to adhere to European values and standards and all these measures have a single goal – to establish order at the border. They are intended to normalise international trade and to integrate Transnistrian business into the legal sphere. The aim of these concerted efforts is to stop trafficking across the Ukraine-Moldova border, particularly on its Transnistrian section, of the illicit flow of goods from Transnistria. The registration procedures were established exclusively to ensure the transparency of crossing the Ukrainian border. They do not in any way influence the organisation of financial and budgetary relations in Transnistria, and comply with all international requirements.

For this purpose, the Moldovan Government carried out all undertaken commitments, including those pertaining to the implementation of the simplified procedures for registration of Transnistrian companies, the registration taking place within one hour of submission of all relevant documentation. Moreover, the implementation of the Moldovan and Ukrainian Joint Declaration of 30 December 2005 was conducted openly and transparently, within bilateral and multilateral consultations and roundtables held in Chişinǎu and Odessa with the participation of representatives from Moldova, Ukraine, the European Union's Border Assistance Mission for Moldova and Ukraine, as well as Transnistrian economic agents, who were informed in detail about the new border-crossing regime and mechanisms of temporary and permanent registration of the enterprises displaced in Transnistria.

In order to eliminate all speculation of an economic blockade of Transnistria, it should be made clear that, for us, the Transnistrian region's residents are our citizens, regardless of nationality, and we would never accept any action which could be described as a blockade. It is worth mentioning that about 300 000 people (out of a total of 555 000 people) have Moldovan citizenship in the Transnistrian region so far, and about 1 000 identity cards are processed per month, Russians representing the third largest ethnic group in Transnistria, behind Moldovans and Ukrainians. Therefore, we call for a halt to the use of any “ethnical arguments”.

The reference that the Russian authorities have made to the 1997 Memorandum on the Basic Principles for Normalisation of Relations between Moldova and Transnistria is not relevant as this memorandum envisaged the elaboration and implementation of a mechanism that was not elaborated and therefore not implemented. Also, it should be mentioned that the 1997 memorandum does not address the customs and border regulations and the regime of movement of goods and people across the Moldovan-Ukrainian border. A clear distinction must be made between the state border-crossing regime and the foreign trade implementation mechanism. Freedom of foreign trade does not suppose crossing the state border without control.

 

We highly appreciate the support provided by the EU, the OSCE and the United States in the process of the implementation of the Joint Declaration of the Prime Ministers of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as the positions recently expressed by these important actors. We believe that if a similar approach to these matters was adopted by the Russian Federation, this could have an important impact on the Tiraspol regime and would facilitate establishing an orderly regime on the Ukraine-Moldova border. 

At the same time, we express our regret that the Tiraspol regime reconfirmed, at this stage, its single objective – the preservation of the status quo in the region for financial and political interests, even if this means sacrificing the fundamental rights and interests of the local population. The Tiraspol allegations of a so‑called economic blockade by the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine of the Transnistrian region are groundless. Separatist authorities try to keep the local companies outside of the legal framework in order to preserve their own illegal profit. We condemn these actions, as well as the spread of the propagandistic hysteria and the blockade of transport in goods and people by Transnistrian leaders through the region. These retaliation measures represent a dangerous attempt of a farfetched self-isolation of the region. Around 100 Transnistria-based companies that cover 80% of the total Transnistrian production have registered with the Chişinǎu authorities so far.

The Transnistrian region's economy has to come out of the shadow and stop being the hostage of permanent suspicions and criminal reputation. Namely this is the pragmatic attitude, which is followed at present by Moldova, supported by the main international actors. In this context, we express our hope that the Russian authorities will revise their position and objectively assess the current situation in Transnistria and we are convinced that the Council of Europe will closely follow further developments in the area and will have its own role to play in ensuring the genuine domination of the rule of law in this region.”

The Representative of Ukraine made the following statement:

Ukraine is worried about the arrest on 12 March 2006, by the authorities of the Republic of Belarus, of six Ukrainian citizens who were present at a meeting with one of the presidential candidates of the Republic of Belarus, and the violent interruption of the report being made by Channel 5 on the course of the election campaign on the eve of the elections to be held on 19 March 2006.

 

Ukraine considers the above-mentioned to be a violation of the fundamental rights of the citizens of Ukraine which are guaranteed by the international legal obligations of the Republic of Belarus and recognised by international legal documents and notes with anxiety that the unjustified arrests of Ukrainian citizens in the Republic of Belarus have recently become systematic.

Diplomats in the Ukrainian Embassy have not been given access to the arrested citizens of Ukraine. This contradicts the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and violates an integral right of every citizen to meet with a consular officer of his or her state. It has become even more obvious that recently the actions of the authorities of the Republic of Belarus with regard to the restrictions on the election campaign, freedom of assembly and the free functioning of the mass media conflict with the voluntarily assumed obligations of the country before the OSCE and do not correspond to democratic standards.

Ukraine, who has always acted in favour of bringing the Republic of Belarus out of international isolation, urged the Belarusian authorities to respect the political rights and freedoms of citizens, to ensure conditions for unhindered coverage during the election campaign of the candidates in the mass media as well as to comply fully with their obligations before the OSCE relating to the conduct of free and democratic elections. Ukraine urges the immediate release of the arrested Ukrainian citizens.”