Moldova Azi
July 2 2005
Problem of Recognition of Self-proclaimed States Has to Be Solved –
Russian Presidential Administration CEO Says
Mr. Modest Kolerov, Chief of the Department for Inter-Regional and
Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries of the Russian Presidential
Administration, took part in an international forum “Europe: Results
of Changes” being held in Moscow, and stated, in particular, that the
problem of recognition of the sovereignty of unrecognized states
[such as Transnistria, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Nagorny Karabakh]
needs to be solved.
“This is one of the most important and principal problems today, and
we all cannot avoid solving it”, he said, adding, “Today, we cannot
help recognizing the very reality of the existence of people living
in those unrecognized states with all their problems, like we cannot
help recognizing those very self-proclaimed republics.
Mr. Kolerov reminded there existed the so-called “international
corridors of possibilities for resolving the problem of unrecognized
republics. These include: international legitimization of elections
to power organs, e.g. like the recent parliamentary elections in
Nagorny Karabakh that were recognized by the OSCE; realization of the
self-styled republic’s rights in the fields of education, culture,
sciences; and other”, said the Kremlin high-ranked representative. In
his words, such unrecognized states are already participants in
international economic relations, except, perhaps, Nagorny Karabakh.
“At acting so, NATO has to be excluded from settling any conflicts
related to the existence of unrecognized states in the FSU area. Any
involvement of NATO’s in settling such problems will only lead to
further freezing of the conflicts”, said Modest Kolerov.
The Russian Presidential Administration representative criticized
former Soviet republics, having stated they lack sovereignty,
democracy, and leaders, “but their biggest and painful-most shortage
is the deficit of legitimacy”, as he put it.
Two weeks ago, Kolerov visited Chisinau and Tiraspol, and made a
number of loud statements that were perceived by the Moldovan
leadership as an indirect recognition of the ‘Transnistrian Moldovan
Republic’.
The ongoing Moscow forum is being attended by several politicians
from Moldova who represent the parties of the so-called pro-Russia
orientation – the leader of the Ravnopraviye [Equal Rights]
Socio-Political Movement Valery Klimenko, Valentin Krylov of the
Party of Socialists, Moldova Noastra Alliance Chairman MP Serafim
Urechean.
Speaking at the forum, Urechean qualified as “lame” the
Ukraine-proposed Plan of settling the Transnistria problem. He said
the Yushenko Plan “is not viable. It has no logical end”.