No initiatives to solve Transnistrian conflict throughout federalisation on agenda of Moldova, says speaker of parliament

Chisinau, 19 July /MOLDPRES/ – On agenda of Moldova, there are no initiatives to solve the Transnistrian conflict by federalising the country. The statement was made today by Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu within context of appointment of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Kozak as Special representative for development of trade and economic relations with Moldova.

At a press conference, Speaker noted that decision of Russian President to appoint Dmitri Kozak in this position would be a message that Russia is going to attract a special attention to Moldova and the Transnistrian region.

"In decree of President Vladimir Putin, there is made no clarification upon region on left bank of the Dniester river. We hope that this appointment is a message and an impetus for improving Moldovan – Russian relations and finding new compromises for restoring communication," said Candu.

"Dmitri Kozak has an impressive profile and experience. It will not be easy given the unpleasant experience of the Kozak Memorandum. On agenda of our country there are no issues regarding settlement of the Transnistrian conflict through federalisation. I think his appointment is a great stretched hand for which we need to find a suitable answer. However, in relations and subsequent actions we will stick to principles such as dignity and mutual respect. We want to maintain pragmatic relations for productive cooperation and not a dominant state relation to dominated state," said Andrian Candu.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Kozak on 12 July as the special representative in the field of development of trade and economic relations with Moldova.

The new representative, Dmitri Kozak, was the author of so-called Kozak Memorandum, initiated in 2002. The document provided for creation of a federation with three subjects: Moldova, Transnistria and Gagauzia, named Federative Republic of Moldova. On the day of signing the Memorandum, 25 November 2003, president at that time, Vladimir Voronin, refused to sign the document, although previously he said that it "offers a unique chance" to solve the Transnistrian conflict. Dmitri Kozak described refusal of Voronin as "political irresponsibility".

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor M. Jantovan)