CHISINAU. Feb 17 (Interfax) - Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister on Reintegration Oleg Serebrian and Vitaly Ignatyev, foreign minister of the self-proclaimed Transdniestrian Republic, were divided on the punishment for separatism introduced in the Moldovan legislation at a meeting in a 1+1 format held in the office of the OSCE Permanent Mission to Tiraspol.
"Such laws exist in many countries of the Council of Europe and in the CIS countries, including the Russian Federation. I don't understand why such a law is a normal thing for Russia, Latvia, Norway or Georgia, but we should not have it? Today I have emphasized once again to our colleagues from the OSCE as well that, from our viewpoint, the law is not an obstacle to the negotiation process. I hope our next meeting in Chisinau will have a normal atmosphere," Serebrian told reporters.
He also emphasized that the law will not create threats to Transdniestrian journalists or the region's residents.
Ignatyev, for his part, said he finds Chisinau's arguments" extremely unconvincing."
"Chisinau's representative could not answer our questions. The next meeting should take place in Chisinau. Who will give guarantees that I or a representative of the negotiation team will not be detained? I asked if the political representative of Moldova gives such guarantees. He said he cannot give such guarantees. The OSCE cannot guarantee anything, either," Ignatyev said.
He said he believes "the problem is very acute," saying it needs to be addressed at a political level to prevent "a catastrophe, violations of the rights and interests of Transdniestrian citizens."
Amendments to the Moldovan Criminal Code criminalizing "separatism," "conspiracy against Moldova" and similar crimes passed the second reading in the Moldovan parliament in early February. The amendments augmented the Criminal Code with such notions as "separatism," anti-constitutional subject," "illegal information entity," "serious security threat to the Republic of Moldova," and "unauthorized collection of information."
Transdniestria viewed criminalization of separatism in Moldova as "an act of aggression" and said that the amendments "called further talks with Chisinau into question."
The parliament has adopted the amendments in the final reading, but they have yet to be promulgated by the president and take effect.
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