Diplomats rebuke Moldovan leaders over peace plan consultation failure

By Dana Spinant

Date: 10/06/04

LEADERS of Moldova should be rebuked for their failure to consult the EU on a new peace plan for the war-torn former Soviet country, despite taking soundings from the United States and Russia on the blueprint, member states' diplomats have said.

In a paper from the heads of member states' embassies in Chisinau, seen by European Voice, the government of Moldova is criticized for "being inconsistent".

Despite claiming that it wants "to draw the EU closer to the resolution of the Transdniestrian conflict", it only consulted the US and Russia when it drafted a new peace plan.

"This is like in the good old Cold War times," a Council of Ministers' diplomat commented. "They think that Washington and Moscow are the only relevant places to seek advice. That's not how it should be," he added.

The report recommends that member states address the issue with the Moldavan authorities. It also expresses dismay that Washington has also not informed the EU about this new plan, despite previous pledges to cooperate closely with the Union on developments related to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

On 1 June, Vladimir Voronin, the president of Moldova, sent the EU, US, Russia, Ukraine and Romania a blueprint called a Pact for Stability and Security. It proposes a resolution of the Transdniestrian conflict based on five principles: territorial integrity of Moldova; democratic principles; ethnic and cultural diversity; neutrality for Moldova, and; the creation of a Moldovan federation, which would include the separatist Transdniestria.

But member states' ambassadors suggest that, before the substance of the plan is studied, the Union should reprimand the leaders in Chisinau for their failure to take the EU on board during the preparation phase.

Foreign ministers gathering in Luxembourg on Monday (14 June) are however set to ignore the new peace plan. According to a Council of Ministers' official, the conclusions of Monday's meeting will mention Moldova and the need to put an end to the inter-ethnic conflict in Transdniestria, but only in general terms.

They will, however, express disappointment over the slow progress of the promised withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova.

A paper from the Heads of Member States' embassies in Chisinau, Moldova, seen by European Voice, criticises the Government of Moldova for failing to consult the European Union on a new peace plan for the country, despite consulting the US and Russia when drafting the plan.