Ion Stevila: "I do not know who spreads gossips about Moldova's intention to quit GUAM"

-The press has recently spread information with reference to Moldova Persident Voronin, who is displeased with the rates of economic projects implementation within GUAM, about the coming withdrawal of Moldova from the said organization. Is this true?

-I do not know who spreads such gossips. We do not intend to quit GUAM. On the contrary, we want to help intensify interaction in the framework of this organization. We, like all other member-states, are interested in attaining progress and having definite results.

Perhaps, sometimes, we express dissatisfaction regarding lack of any real results, in particular, regarding implementation of definite projects. The dialogues, discussions and events are held in a positive atmosphere. We are able to stand this rate. By the way, the meeting of national coordinators of GUAM will be held in Kishinev soon.

We only want the implementation of definite projects. That is our opinion.

-Does it mean that the announcement of Moldova President on the possible consideration of the issue of country's withdrawal from the organization by the national parliament should not be overstated?

-The President of Moldova has voiced critical opinion on the real results of our activity, but, perhaps, he did not spoke of our intention to quit the organization.

-Perhaps, GUAM is more suitable for conduction of our discussions, different events, conference, exchange of information and experience. But at the current stage, it can hardly be featured as an organization, which could really help this process. As you know, we have 5+2 mechanism, OSCE was involved in 1993 and there is a mission of this organization in Moldova. We will direct to the existing mechanisms without direct involvement of GUAM to the process, as it will be ineffective.

-Moldovan leadership has recently made several hopeful announcements regarding possible soonest resolution of the Transdniestrian problem. Is this optimism connected with the changes in the approach of Russia, the main mediator, to this conflict?

-Russia preserves its position regarding Moldova and the process of the Transniestrian regulation. The recent events and discussions in the State Duma showed that the current line is maintained and has not been changed towards us.

It was said that Russia may reconsider its position regarding some other conflicts. We have our own features, there are numbers of favorable conditions to promote this process. There is a chance and we want to use it. Among the position achievements we can state the resumption of meetings between the President of Moldova and leader of Transdniestria, achievement of an agreement on the initiation of a joint work of the groups on strengthening the confidence measures.

An informal 5+2 meeting was held in Odessa this week, which means a real prospect of renewal of talks in the said format. An agreement has been reached for appeal to the European Union to lift restrictions on the movement of Transdniestrian representatives to the European countries, raising obstacles on the way of movement of Moldovan officials in Transdniestria.

In other words, you see that there are a number of real positive changes.

/Day.Az/