If Russia withdraws from the self-proclaimed Transnistrian region of Moldova, the EU will tighten its bonds with Moscow in return, German chancellor Angela Merkel has proposed to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
During a two-day German-Russian conference on economic affairs in Yekaterinburg, Merkel said that Germany will help abolish EU visas for Russians and create a council which would deal with foreign policy and security between Brussels and Moscow.
The move may mean Russian citizens would be able to enter the European Union, including Poland, without the need for visas.
Neither President Dmitry Medvedev, nor Sergei Prikhodko, responsible for the Kremlin’s foreign policy, responded to Angela Merkel’s offer. “Medvedev has recently been relatively soft towards the West. Therefore any talks on Russia’s making further concessions are premature”, says Ochmann Cornelius, expert on Eastern Europe from the Bertelsmann Foundation.
Transnistria, the self-proclaimed pro-Russian enclave between Moldova and Ukraine, has been a bone of contention between these two countries since the fall of the USSR.
The existence of the Russian-speaking Transnistria, which is not formally recognized by any country, paralyzes Moldova which as an independent country struggles towards the West.
Most inhabitants of Transnistria have Russian passports, they receive pensions form Russia and Russian troops are deployed in the region. Transnistria exists mainly thanks to smuggling and production of steel and cognac distributed in Russia.
If Germany managed to solve a conflict over Transnistria, it would be a great diplomatic success for Angela Merkel. Six weeks ago during Medvedev’s visit to Berlin, the German Chancellor made the first offer.
Merkel proposed then, that if Russia withdraws from Transnistria, a council which would deal with foreign policy and security between Brussels and Moscow will be created. “EU officials were angry at Merkel because she did not consult it with them”, says Ochmann.
“However, later Merkel received a silent blessing from the EU to hold talks with Russia on behalf of the EU. Brussels hopes to solve the decades-long conflict near the EU borders. I doubt, however, that Russians are ready for such proposals” adds Ochmann. (mg/jb)
Source: Gazeta Wyborcza
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