MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

23.10.2006

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Jan Marinus Wiersma, Hannes Swoboda and Marianne Mikko
on behalf of the PSE Group
on Transnistria

B6‑0551/2006

European Parliament resolution on Transnistria

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions to the situation in Moldova and the situation in Transnistria, and in particular that of 16 March 2006,

–  having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Moldova and the European Union, which entered into force on 1 July 1998,

–  having regard to the statements of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) at the 1999 Summit in Istanbul and the 2002 Ministerial Council meeting in Porto,

–   having regard to the Presidency statement of 18 September 2006 on the 'referendum' in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova,

–  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas a 'referendum' took place in the Moldovan region of Transnistria on 17 September 2006, aimed at the full independence of the region and its possible unification with the Russian Federation,

B  whereas neither this 'referendum' nor its outcome were accepted by the international community, as it was organised in a completely unilateral manner by the repressive regime of Transnistria, thus blocking the possibilities for a negotiated political solution to the conflict in Moldova, and as the suggestive character of the questions and the failure to meet basic requirements for free and fair elections such as freedom of the media, freedom of assembly and political pluralism were considered as predetermining the outcome of the referendum,

C.  whereas the European Union took important steps recently to enhance its engagement with the Republic of Moldova and the search for a resolution of the Transnistrian conflict, by opening a permanent European Commission delegation in Chisinau, appointing an EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Moldova with a mandate to contribute to a sustainable settlement of the Transnistrian conflict and establishing an EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Moldova and Ukraine,

D.  whereas at the beginning of this year the Russian Federation imposed a ban on the import of agricultural products (wine, fruit and vegetables) from Moldova and Georgia, which is particularly harmful to the economic development of both countries;

E.  whereas the unilateral movements for independence in Transnistria, South Ossetia and Abkhazia are not being supported by any international organisation, and continuing efforts are being made under the auspices of the OSCE and the United Nations to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova and Georgia,

1.  Strongly denounces the attempt in the Moldovan region of Transnistria to establish its independence in a unilateral way by organising a so-called referenda;

2.  Calls on the Government of the Russian Federation to withhold its support from this move and in particular from the holding of so-called referenda on the independence of the region, and calls on the Government of the Russian Federation to give its fullest support to the multilateral efforts to find a solution to the conflicts in its neighbourhood;

3.  Fully rejects the organisation and outcome of the 'referendum' on the independence of the Moldovan region of Transnistria and its possible accession to the Russian Federation as this is in sharp contradiction with the internationally recognised sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and as the repressive regime in Transnistria does not allow for the free expression of the popular will;

4.  Calls on both parties to the conflict to return immediately to the OSCE-led negotiations in the 5+2 format and work towards a speedy and transparent solution of the Transnistria conflict;

5.  Calls on the Council, the Member States and the Commission to continue to give their fullest support to a political and peaceful solution of the regional conflicts in the neighbourhood which the EU shares with the Russian Federation, and urges them to discuss these matters at their next meetings with the President and the Government of the Russian Federation;

6.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Governments and Parliaments of Moldova, Georgia and the Russian Federation.