Untangling Conflicts in the South Caucasus and Moldova: An Agenda for 2013

In 2012, the chances to find sustainable settlement to prolonged conflicts in the South Caucasus and Moldova did not improve considerably. Talks on the Transnistrian conflict progressed unevenly. The leaders in Tiraspol continued to avoid discussing a political solution to the conflict. Positive momentum bogged down as Russia choked off Transnistria’s room to maneuver and Tiraspol’s hardened its discourse and policy actions toward Moldova. In Georgia, parliamentary elections raised hopes that the new leadership could set in motion a long-term process of untangling the strategic deadlock in relations with Russia, while reviving and expanding links with breakaway regions. In 2012, clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the contact line escalated again. What was expected in 2013 and what could be done to prepare the ground for settlement?