JOINT
STATEMENT
OF THE
PRESIDENTS OF THE
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 Organization 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 Transdniestrian 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, decisions of the
OSCE, the Joint Declaration of 19 January 1996 of the Presidents of the Russian
Federation, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova, which recognise
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
territorially whole Republic of Moldova.
(signed)
B. Yeltsin
(signed)
I. Kuchma
(signed)
With the Participation of the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE
N. Helvig Petersen