Joint Statement of the Presidents of the Russian Federation and Ukraine in Connection with the Signing of the Memorandum on the Bases for Normalization of Relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria

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Country/entity: Moldova
Russia
Transdniestria
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Joint Statement of the Presidents of the Russian Federation and Ukraine in Connection with the Signing of the Memorandum on the Bases for Normalization of Relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria
Date: 8 May 1997
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: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Moldova Transdniestria process
Parties: Boris Yeltsin, Russian Federation, Leonid Kuchma, Ukraine
Third parties: participation of OSCE Chairman-In-Office
Description: Welcomed signing of the Memorandum as an important step toward settlement of the Transdniestrian problem and towards strengthening mutual trust, stability, and security. Declared that its provisions could not contradict generally accepted norms of international law and would not be interpreted or acted upon in contradiction to existing international agreements recognising the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova. Also noted the intention to intensify mediation efforts and called upon parties to immediately initiate negotiations to complete a comprehensive document on the final settlement of the conflict and a mechanism of appropriate guarantees. Affirmed readiness to act as guarantors for the compliance with the provisions on the status of Transniestria as a component part of a united and territorially whole Republic of Moldova.

Agreement document: MD_RU_970508_Joint Statement on the Memorandum on the Bases for Normalization of Relations.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: No specific mention.
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: Page 1, Declare that the provisions of the Memorandum cannot contradict the generally accepted norms of international law, and also will not be interpreted or acted upon in contradiction with existing international agreements, decision of the OSCE, the Joint Declaration of 19 January 1996 of the President of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova, which recognised the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.

Affirm the readiness of their countries, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, with the assistance of the OSCE, to act as guarantors for the compliance with the provisions set forth by the corresponding documents on the status of Transdniestria as a component part of a united and territorial whole Republic of Moldova.
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: Page 1, Declare that the provisions of the Memorandum cannot contradict the generally accepted norms of international law, and also will not be interpreted or acted upon in contradiction with existing international agreements, decision of the OSCE, the Joint Declaration of 19 January 1996 of the President of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova, which recognised the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: Page 1, Declare that the provisions of the Memorandum cannot contradict the generally accepted norms of international law, and also will not be interpreted or acted upon in contradiction with existing international agreements, decision of the OSCE, the Joint Declaration of 19 January 1996 of the President of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova, which recognised the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.
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: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
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: With the participation of the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE
N. Helveg Petersen
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 1, Note their intention together with the OSCE to intensify the mediation efforts and call upon the parties to immediately initiate negotiations in order to complete in the near future an accord on a comprehensive document on the final settlement of the conflict and also a mechanism of appropriate guarantees,

Page 1, Affirm the readiness of their countries, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, with the assistance of the OSCE, to act as guarantors for the compliance with the provisions set forth by the corresponding documents on the status of Transdniestria as a component part of a united and territorial whole Republic of Moldova.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: https://www.osce.org/moldova/42309

Joint Statement of the Presidents of the Russian Federation and Ukraine in Connection with the Signing of the Memorandum on the Bases for Normalization of Relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria

Moscow 8 May 1997

The Presidents of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as heads of mediator States in the political process for the peaceful settlement of the Transdniestrian conflict, with the participation of the Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Welcome the signing of the Memorandum on the Bases for normalization of relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria as an important step toward the just and comprehensive settlement of the Transniestrian problem and the strengthening of mutual trust, stability, and security in the whole region,

Declare that the provisions of the Memorandum cannot contradict the generally accepted norms of international law, and also will not be interpreted or acted upon in contradiction with existing international agreements, decision of the OSCE, the Joint Declaration of 19 January 1996 of the President of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova, which recognised the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.

Note their intention together with the OSCE to intensify the mediation efforts and call upon the parties to immediately initiate negotiations in order to complete in the near future an accord on a comprehensive document on the final settlement of the conflict and also a mechanism of appropriate guarantees,

Affirm the readiness of their countries, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, with the assistance of the OSCE, to act as guarantors for the compliance with the provisions set forth by the corresponding documents on the status of Transdniestria as a component part of a united and territorial whole Republic of Moldova.

(signed)

B. Yeltsin I. Kuchma

With the participation of the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE

N. Helveg Petersen