Tiraspol. 22 February. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The «Permanent conference on political issues», or «5+2» format, is the main internationally recognised negotiating platform for the settlement of the Moldo-Pridnestrovian conflict, which has already worked for 15 years. Many have repeatedly criticised this format throughout this period, proposed to change it and add new mediators and observers. But the position of the Russian Federation as a guarantor and observer of the negotiating process has always remained unchanged — it is rather an efficient mechanism whereby «certain agreements have already been reached, and some of them have even been implemented.”
«I hear a lot of different positions that this format does not justify itself, that something new should be devised. But I approach this issue as an ordinary motorist — if the car goes, there is no need to rummage into its engine. This format works, not always so brilliantly as all of us would like, but the main thing — it does work. It should simply be enhanced, but it is not right to abandon it, at least as for now," said ambassador at large Sergey Gubarev, who is Russia's political representative in the permanent conference on political issues.
The negotiation process has come through ups and downs over 15 years. The longest pause in relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova occurred in 2006. For the following five years, the sides held informal meetings of the «Permanent conference», which «did not commit anyone to anything, did not give cause for the negotiating process to resume», the Russian diplomat says.
«I recall a rather funny incident when after such informal consultations we saw with regret that we had failed to resume the negotiating process. We all began to rack our brains over the wording, how to describe our failure, and it occurred to someone in the negotiating room to designate the outcome of the meeting as follows: 'The consultation participants have come close to the possibility of resuming the negotiating process.' Of course, these linguistic exercises saddened us a lot, but I am convinced that negotiations are one of the most ingenious inventions of mankind. My credo is ten years of negotiations is better than one day of the war. So, I'm sure that this is the only way of solving all problems and conflicts, including that in Pridnestrovie.»
Only in 2011, during a two-stage Moscow meeting, was the work of the «5+2» format unblocked. But even this turning point failed to make meetings of the «Permanent conference…» more frequent.
The last meeting was held in Berlin last summer. It has proved to be very successful thanks to the efforts of the international participants. Back then, before the meeting, the Russian Federation put out its non-paper proposals. They were aimed at stabilising the negotiating structure. Those proposals and ideas became the basis of the Berlin Protocol signed at the meeting.
«How to implement what we have agreed about at this round table? There is no rule regulating such an approach for the time being. As late as February 2013 the Russian delegation put forward such a proposal at a regular round of negotiations. Last year, during the Berlin meeting, we submitted a draft of such an agreement for consideration by, first of all, the sides. But not without a certain amount of pride, I can say this initiative was backed by both mediators — Ukraine and the OSCE — and observers — EU and US representatives. So, this is one of the feasible ways to improve the work and increase the efficiency of the '5+2' format. The Moldovan side, in turn, promised it would work on this agreement.»
Meanwhile, as Pridnestrovian diplomats say, the Moldovan side is still showing a lack of political will and readiness to seek compromises. This is clearly illustrated by its progress in the implementation of the Berlin protocol provisions.
Sergey Gubarev notes that the most important thing now is that the normal work of the «Permanent conference…» has been resumed.
«The sides are ready to settle their relations at the negotiating table in a civilised way, and we will assist them in every way possible. As Vladimir Putin has recently said, Russia is ready to continue fulfilling its functions as a mediator in the settlement process, as well as the functions entrusted by the sides — those of a guarantor of all the agreements that are yet to be reached.»
