"OLVIA-PRESS"

STEPHEN PFEIFER: "ASPIRATION OF THE USA

IS TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT OF THE DNIESTRIAN SETTLEMENT"

On August 28^th 2002, in the US information center in Moldova there took place the television bridge Kishinev-Washington, where settlement of the Moldavian-Dniestrian relationship was the main topic. The US secretary of state deputy assistant Stephen Pfeiffer answered the questions of Moldavian and Dniestrian journalists; he is the Department of State supervisor for European and Eurasian directions.

Commenting on contemporary situation of the relationship between Kishinev and Tiraspol, Mr. Pfeiffer declared that in opinion of the US government, today a favorable opportunity for settlement of the situation. The American diplomat defined more explicitly that he meant first of all the new concept of Moldavian-Dniestrian settlement, the project of which had been offered in July 2002 in Kiev and foresaw federalization of the state. Stephen Pfeiffer emphasized, "This document is a very serious impact to settlement of the disputes between the parties". "We do not expect that it will satisfy all interests of the parties", remarked the US secretary of state deputy assistant, "but we are sure it is a good possibility to move further regarding normalization of relationship".

Answering the question about possible participation of the USA in the negotiation process in quality of an equal mediator, Stephen Pfeiffer informed that "the existing format and structure of the negotiations" suits Washington, moreover that the USA is one of the OSCE members. At the same time, by words of the American diplomat, "the US aspiration is to be an active participant in settlement of contradictions between Moldova and Dniestria".

During the television bridge, the journalists were also interested in issue of Russian military presence in Dniestria. Commenting on that topic, Stephen Pfeiffer declared that the US government hoped for Russia's on-time fulfillment of Istanbul agreements, according to which the Russian military contingent should be withdrawn from Dniestria by the end of 2002. Answering the questions about possible preservation of the Russian military presence in quality of peacekeepers, the American diplomat underlined that it was possible if necessary but not only in case if the Russians "joined the OSCE peacekeeping forces".

Talking about perspectives of Moldavian-Dniestrian settlement, Stephen Pfeiffer refused of giving prognosis regarding the date of final normalization of relationship between Moldova and Dniestria. He just remarked, "it was a complicated process", the USA however hope that the Kiev initiatives would let making this time maximally close.