Strengthening security and stability in Moldova: Four years of mission and challenges
When I assumed the position of the Head of Mission at the OSCE Mission to Moldova back in 2018, the focus of the OSCE’s mediation efforts was on supporting the Sides to implement the so-called Berlin-plus package – a set of confidence-building measure they had previously agreed on – and to move the Transdniestrian Settlement Process forward to discuss political issues. The political environment following the 2019 Moldovan Parliamentary Elections, the Covid-19 pandemic and finally the Russian attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2022 created challenges to our work, none of us could have foreseen at the time. Looking back at all these years, I am proud to see how well we were able to deal with them as a team.
The OSCE as a mediator
As a mediator, you are very often confronted with the question “why you have not solved the conflict?” Well, the point here is that the OSCE has been entrusted to facilitate the negotiations between the central government in Chisinau and the de facto authorities in Tiraspol. We are here to help and support them, but we cannot solve the conflict for them. The strategy we have pursued with regard to the Transdniestrian Settlement Process in the past decade has been to work with both sides to agree on small steps that would benefit the population on both sides of the the Dniester/Nistru river, implement them in good faith and thereby build the trust that is necessary to move to more complex issues. That worked well between 2016 and 2018, but – for different reasons - became more and more difficult as of 2019. Hence, our focus has changed gradually from moving forward to preventing a possible worsening of the situation.
This has required a lot of dialogue, counselling and hard work of the entire team to provide the Sides with ideas, options and scenarios. After four years, I might have not seen the progress I had hoped for when I started my mandate – but I am very relieved that we have managed to keep the situation stable, have an ongoing, constructive dialogue between both sides and have not seen the type of escalation and conflict that might have drawn us back for years.
COVID-19
The Covid-19 pandemic, with its disruption of personal contacts and the temporary freedom of movement restrictions imposed by Tiraspol, hit the settlement process at a time when relations had already soured and – evidenced among others by the failure to agree on a final protocol of the 2019 Bratislava 5+2 meeting. However, there were also positive aspects and, as in every crisis: opportunities. The Moldovan Government delivered Covid-vaccines to Transdniestria and both sides developed a pragmatic form of co-operation during the pandemic. At the same time, we adjusted our traditional type of working to online tools and learned lessons that continue to help us now to maintain communication even if personal meetings are not possible.
Transdniestrian Settlement Process since the start of the war against Ukraine
The start of the full-fledged war in neighboring Ukraine, has meant new challenges for the Mission and the settlement process. In the last days of February and early days of March, the entire Mission was fully absorbed in facilitating the evacuation of our SMM colleagues from Ukraine. This was an incredible team effort that the entire team can be proud of.
At the same time, we worked to stabilize the situation with regard to Transdniestria. It is apparent that the Sides have now shifted their focus from the Berlin-plus agenda to managing the repercussions of closed borders, broken logistic chains, the loss of traditional trade routes and raising energy prices.
While the Republic of Moldova is not directly affected by the ongoing fighting, the economic impact, the refugee crisis and the deep political divide affect the country tremendously. In light of this, our Mission has focused its activities on mediation, monitoring and managing support.
We continue our work to support a constructive dialogue between the Sides. We might have to take a pause in the 5+2 for now, but I am happy to say that we maintain an ongoing process of one-on-one and working group meetings on the ground and our Mission has been successfully facilitating this process. We have also actively supported the talks in complementary channels between Chisinau and Tiraspol which helped to ensure a crucial understanding on the continued delivery of cheap electricity from a power plant located in Transdniestria to the right bank.
We have intensified and expanded our monitoring activities in order to constantly assess developments and follow up on incidents, as well as the human rights situation. By doing this, we are helping establishing facts and dispelling rumors.
It makes me proud that our Mission has worked to manage and facilitate support from different OSCE institutions for the Republic of Moldova in the spirit of the “whole-of-OSCE” approach. We have been facilitating visits of the Chairman-in-Office, the Secretary General and other OSCE colleagues and have helped to establish contacts, providing expertise, liaising with national and international partners on the ground and hosting their staff in our premises.
Continued challenges
At the same time, we are facing continued challenges, which need to be addressed. The Mission’s support has been invaluable in terms of encouraging a regular, direct and constructive dialogue on the level of political representatives, as well as on expert level, which is key in this respect. I hope very much to see the continuation of this dialogue.
The security situation has deteriorated gradually over the past weeks. We observed number of bomb threats on both banks and various incidents in Transdniestria in an apparent attempt to destabilise the security situation and spread a feeling of anxiety and insecurity. The Mission has sent monitoring teams immediately on the spot to gather information and monitor further developments. We have also activated our contacts with all the relevant counterparts and remain vigilant.
I have condemned all attempts to destabilize the situation in Transdniestria and called on all sides to refrain from any action, which could undermine the trust and stability on both sides of the river. The same counts for the rest of the Republic of Moldova. OSCE efforts to contribute to peace and stability throughout the country will have to continue as increasing challenges are looming before the background of high inflation, weak energy security and political polarisation.
After four years of being Head of Mission at the OSCE Mission to Moldova, I will be leaving this post soon, taking the most exciting memories with me.
I am truly grateful to my colleagues in the Mission, all counterparts and participants of the negotiation process, and all the delegations for the tremendous support, active cooperation and interest they showed towards my mission throughout all these years. Without their incredible assistance and collaboration, no mediation efforts would be fruitful.
Keeping peace and stability on both sides of the river is what will count in the days, weeks and months to come and I hope that the Mission continues providing its remarkable contribution to this process with success. I wish the partners, the country and its people every possible success in this important endeavour to maintain peace and stability.