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APPEAL

of civil society representatives from the Republic of Moldova to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mrs. Catherine Ashton, on the situation in Transnistria

Your Excellency,

European integration is construed in the Republic of Moldova as a prerequisite for sustainable development, implicitly the realization of the country’s territorial integrity. Unfortunately we found that the activation of the dialogue the European Union – the Republic of Moldova with the prospect of political association, economic integration and liberalization of visa regime for Moldovan citizens is accompanied by deliberate aggravation of the situation in the eastern part of the country with the aim of obstructing this European course. We welcome the commitment of the European Union and Yours personal one including the Declaration on the so-called legal act on Transnistria border to support the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict in the interest and for the benefit of the population on both banks of the Dniester. However, the latest events in the eastern part of the country make us solicit the increase of the EU efforts to successfully implement the provisions of the negotiating framework and the defining documents signed by the Republic of Moldova with the European Commission implicitly the Action Plan on visa liberalization, and diplomatic assistance for the proper preparation for the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. In this context, we, civil society representatives, ask:

• To include in the "5+2" meeting agenda in Vienna this July the issues related to the situation the Security Zone and to require the guarantors and mediators, implicitly the Russian Federation, to make use of all legal means available to stabilize the situation.
• To request the Russian Federation to not further enhance military contingent in the Joint Peacekeeping Forces and gradually withdraw troops and technique from the Operative Group of Russian troops in Transnistria.
• To stimulate the consolidation of Moldovan political class and society in their efforts to calm the situation in the region.
• To make the assistance provided to Transnistria dependent on Tiraspol administration willingness to refrain from any unilateral actions that could destabilize the situation.
• To provisionally extend the mandate of the EUBAM mission to support the establishment and functioning of the six checkpoints on the Dniester and complete the mission with civilian observers to monitor the situation in Tighina and neighboring localities, observers that would be the backbone of a new International Civil Mission in the Security Zone.
• To stimulate the participation of civil society in the negotiations on a peaceful and lasting settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.

July 9, 2013 Chişinău

Signed by:

Asociaţia pentru Politică Externă (APE), Chişinău

IDIS Viitorul, Chişinău

Asociaţia „Promo-LEX”, Chişinău

Asociația „Integritate”, Grigoriopol

Centrul de Resurse pentru Drepturile Omului (CReDO), Chişinău

Asociația „Mamele pentru Drepturile Omului”, Tiraspol

RCTV „Memoria”, Chişinău

Asociația Pedagogilor din Transnistria „LUMINA”, Grigoriopol

Centrul Analitic Independent „Expert-Grup”, Chişinău

Asociația „Promovarea Justiției Efective”, Tiraspol

Fundaţia Est-Europeană, Chişinău

Grupul de Inițiativă „Prosvet”, Dubăsari

Asociaţia Presei Independente (API), Chişinău

Centrul Parteneriat pentru Dezvoltare (CPD), Chişinău

Consiliul Naţional al Tineretului din Moldova (CNTM), Chişinău

Transparency-International Moldova, Chişinău

Alianta Centrelor Comunitare de Acces la Informatie si Instruire din Moldova, Rezina

Asociaţia „Juriştii pentru Drepturile Omului”, Chişinău

Asociatia „BIOS”, Chişinău

Insititutul pentru Drepturile Omului (IDOM), Chișinău

Institutul pentru Politici Publice (IPP), Chișinău