Agreement on the Principles for a Peaceful Settlement of the Armed Conflict in the Dniester Region of the Republic of Moldova

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Country/entity: Moldova
Russia
Transdniestria
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Agreement on the Principles for a Peaceful Settlement of the Armed Conflict in the Dniester Region of the Republic of Moldova
Date: 21 Jul 1992
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
Transdniestria War (1992)
Towards the end of the 1980s, nationalist movements became a leading force in the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR), which expressed intent on leaving the USSR. In 1988, the Popular Front of Moldova, demanded that the USSR make Moldovian the only official state language, thereby alienating Russian-speaking groups within the Republic. This was particularly the case with Transdniestria region where Russian-speakers (and Ukrainian-speakers) represented 53.8 per cent of the population. Furthermore, events during the Second World War helped define a historical identity for the Transdniestria region. Nonetheless, following the language laws, Slavic-backlash in the form of the Yedinstvo Movement began pressing for equal rights. Following the election of the nationalist Popular Front in the Spring of 1990, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed by an unelected assembly in September. Wishing to maintain the territorial unity of the Moldavian SSR, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev intervened citing restriction on minority rights by Moldova and annulled the Pridnestrovian proclamation. Armed clashes broke out in March 1992 between Moldovian and Transdniestrian/Pridnestrovian forces. However, due to the slow devolution of Soviet authority (the armed forces had only been divided between the former republics in April 1992), the Russian Federation maintained 9,000 troops of the 14th Guards in Moldova, and they eventually intervened on behalf of Pridnestrovian forces in July 1992. A ceasefire was signed on 21 July, which has remained although the conflict remains unresolved despite attempts by the OSCE during the end of the 1990s.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Moldova Transdniestria process
Parties: For the Republic of Moldova
For the Russian Federation
Third parties: -
Description: Short cease-fire agreement providing provisions for setting up a joint monitoring commission to enforce the ceasefire, among other provisions.

Agreement document: MD RU_920000_AgreementPrinciplesPpeacefulSettlementDniestrConflict.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Page 2-3, Article 5, ... 2. The parties to the conflict shall immediately begin negotiations to settle matters relating to the return of refugees to their homes, assistance to the populations of regions that have suffered from the conflict and the reconstruction of economic units and housing. The Russian Federation shall provide the necessary assistance in this endeavor.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: Page 1, Reaffirming their commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe,
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: Rights related issues→Media and communication→Media roles
Page 3, Article 6,
In order to disseminate objective information about the situation in the area covered by the settlement, the parties shall establish a joint press centre which will be under the authority of the Control Committee.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: Page 2-3, Article 5, 1. The parties to the conflict consider the application of any sanctions or blockades unacceptable. In this context, obstacles to the provision of goods and services and the movement of individuals shall be eliminated immediately, and appropriate steps shall be taken to lift the state of emergency in the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 2, Article 3
The city of Bendery, as the headquarters of the Control Committee, and in the light of the particular complexity of the situation, shall be declared a zone of heightened security, which will be guaranteed by the military contingents of the sides taking part in the implementation of this Agreement.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, Desiring a speedy and total cease-fire and a peaceful settlement of the armed conflict in the Dniester region,

Page 1, Article 1, 1. From the moment of the signing of this Agreement, the parties to the conflict pledge to take all the necessary measures to ensure a total cease-fire and to halt all armed actions against each other.
2. Once a cease-fire has been declared, the parties to the conflict shall proceed to withdraw units of their armed forces and other formations, and military equipment and arms; they shall complete this process within seven days. The aim of this disengagement is to create a security zone between the parties to the conflict. The exact coordinates of the zone will be established in a special protocol between the sides taking part in the implementation of this Agreement.

Page 2, Article 2, 3. In order to carry out the aforementioned measures, the Control Committee shall have under its authority military contingents which shall be formed on a voluntary basis and shall represent the sides taking part in the implementation of this Agreement. The deployment of these contingents and their use in guaranteeing the cease-fire and security in the zone of conflict shall be in accordance with the decisions of the Control Committee, which shall be taken on the basis of consensus. The numerical strength and status of the military contingents, and the conditions for their deployment in the zone of conflict and their withdrawal from it, shall be established in a separate protocol.

Page 3, Article 7, This Agreement shall enter into force at the time of its signature. The Agreement shall be terminated by mutual consent or when one of the Contracting Parties renounces it, which would result in the cessation of the activities of the Control Committee and the military contingents under its authority.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, Article 1, ... 2. Once a cease-fire has been declared, the parties to the conflict shall proceed to withdraw units of their armed forces and other formations, and military equipment and arms; they shall complete this process within seven days. The aim of this disengagement is to create a security zone between the parties to the conflict. The exact coordinates of the zone will be established in a special protocol between the sides taking part in the implementation of this Agreement.

Page 2, Article 4, The units of the 14th Army of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, stationed in the Republic of Moldova, shall observe strict neutrality. The two parties to the conflict pledge to respect that neutrality and to refrain from any unlawful acts involving the military property and servicemen of that Army, and members of their families.
Matters relating to the status of the Army and the procedure and schedule for its gradual withdrawal shall be settled through negotiations between the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: Page 1, Article 1, ... 2. Once a cease-fire has been declared, the parties to the conflict shall proceed to withdraw units of their armed forces and other formations, and military equipment and arms; they shall complete this process within seven days. The aim of this disengagement is to create a security zone between the parties to the conflict. The exact coordinates of the zone will be established in a special protocol between the sides taking part in the implementation of this Agreement.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: Page 1, Article 2, 1. In order to ensure the implementation of the measures stipulated in article 1 and to guarantee security in the aforementioned zone, a joint Control Committee consisting of representatives of the three sides taking part in the settlement, shall be established. In its work, the Committee shall make use of the military observer groups established under all the previous agreements, including the quadripartite agreements. The Control Committee shall proceed to carry out its tasks as stipulated in this Agreement within seven days after the signing of the Agreement.
2. Each side taking part in the work of the Committee shall appoint its representatives to it. The Control Committee shall be based in the city of Bendery.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker; http://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/MD%20RU_920000_AgreementPrinciplesPpeacefulSettlementDniestrConflict.pdf

Agreement on the principles for a peaceful settlement of the armed conflict in the Dniester region of the Republic of Moldoya

The Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation,

Desiring a speedy and total cease-fire and a peaceful settlement of the armed conflict in the Dniester region,

Reaffirming their commitrnent to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Welcoming the mutual understanding in principle of 3 July 1992 between the President of the Republic of Moldova and the President of the Russian Federation,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

1. From the moment of the signing of this Agreement, the parties to the conflict pledge to take all the necessary measures to ensure a total cease-fire and to halt all armed actions against each other.

2. Once a cease-fire has been declared, the parties to the conflict shall proceed to withdraw units of their armed forces and other formations, and military equipment and arms;

they shall complete this process within seven days.

The aim of this disengagement is to create a security zone between the parties to the conflict.

The exact coordinates of the zone will be established in a special protocol between the sides taking part in the implementation of this Agreement.

Article 2

1. in order to ensure the implementation of the measures stipulated in article 1 and to guarantee security in the aforementioned zone, a joint Control Comrnittee consisting of representatives of the three sides taking part in the settlement, shall be established.

in its work, the Committee shall make use of the military observer groups established under all the previous agreements, including the quadripartite agreements.

The Control Committee shall proceed to carry out its tasks as stipulated in this Agreement within seven days after the signing of the Agreement.

2. Each side taking part in the work of the Committee shall appoint its representatives to it.

The Control Committee shall be based in the city of Bendery.

3. In order to carry out the aforementioned measures, the Control Committee shall have under its authority military continqents which shall be formed on a voluntary basis and shall represent the sides takinq part in the implementation of this Aqreement.

The deployment of these continqents and their use in quaranteeinq the cease-fire and security in the zone of conflict shall be in accordance with the decisions of the Control Committee, which shall be taken on the basis of consensus.

The numerical strenqth and status of the military continqents, and the conditions for their deployment in the zone of conflict and their withdrawal from it, shall be established in a separate protocol.

4. If the provisions of this Aqreement are violated, the Control Committee shall investiqate the circumstances of the violation and shall take urqent and appropriate measures to restore peace and law and order and prevent the recurrence of such violations.

5. The financinq of the activities of the Control Committee and of the forces under its authority shall be shared by all the sides.

Article 3

The city of Bendery, as the headquarters of the Control Committee, and in the liqht of the particular complexity of the situation, shall be declared a zone of heiqhtened security, which will be quaranteed by the military continqents of the sides takinq part in the implementation of this Aqreement.

Article 4

The units of the 14th Army of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, stationed in the Republic of Moldova, shall observe strict neutrality.

The two parties to the conflict pledqe to respect that neutrality and to refrain from any unlawful acts involvinq the military property and servicemen of that Army, and members of their families.

Matters relatinq to the status of the Army and the procedure and schedule for its qradual withdrawal shall be settled throuqh neqotiations between the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation.

Article 5

1. The parties to the conflict consider the application of any sanctions or blockades unacceptable.

In this context, obstacles to the provısıon of qoods and services and the movement of individuals shall be eliminated immediately, and appropriate steps shall be taken to lift the state of emerqency in the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

2. The parties to the conflict shall immediately beqin neqotiations to settle matters relatinq to the return of refuqees to their homes, assistance to the populations of reqions that have suffered from the conflict and the reconstruction of economic units and housinq.

The Russian Federation shall provide the necessary assistance in this endeavour.

3. The parties to the conflict shall take all the necessary measures to ensure the free flow of international humanitarian aid to the area covered by the settlement.

Article 6

In order to disseminate objective information about the situation in the area covered by the settlement, the parties shall establish a joint press centre which will be under the authority of the Control Committee.

Article 7

The parties consider that the measures contained in this Aqreement are an important component in the settlement of the conflict throuqh peaceful political means.

Article 8

This Aqreement shall enter into force at the time of its siqnature.

The Aqreement shall be terminated by mutual consent or when one of the Contractinq Parties renounces it, which would result in the cessation of the activities of the Control Committee and the military continqents under its authority.

DONE at Moscow on 21 July 1992, in duplicate in the Moldavian and Russian

lanquaqes, both texts beinq equally authentic.

For the Republic of Moldova For the Russian Federation