12 July 1995

Doc. 7355

WRITTEN DECLARATION No. 243

on the 14th Russian Army's withdrawal from Transnistria

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

1.       The undersigned, members of the Assembly, are alarmed by the recent decision of the Russian Federation's State Duma regarding the maintaining of the 14th Russian Army in Transnistria, territory that belongs to the Republic of Moldova.

2.       Such a decision is against the commitment made by the Russian Federation's Government in the treaty concluded with the Government of the Republic of Moldova regarding the withdrawal of the 14th Army within a maximum period of three years. It is also especially against the principle according to which no state can send or maintain its armed forces on the territory of another state, without the latter's consent or an international mandate.

3.       The State Duma's argument, on which the above-mentioned decision is based and which says that the maintainance of the 14th Army in Transnistria would represent a factor of stability in the area, cannot be accepted as it opens the way to abusive steps in international relations and reminds us of the policy of force and dictatorship by which the bigger states decide what is good and what is bad for the smaller states, without taking into account the legitimate options and the sovereign rights of the latter. Likewise, one can assert that sending the armed forces of one state onto the territory of another state, without having the prior agreement of all the sides involved, represents a risk of instability, on which the Council of Europe cannot but express its deep concern.

4.       Bearing in mind the above, the undersigned urge all the authorities of the Russian Federation to proceed to the immediate withdrawal of the 14th Army from the territory of Transnistria, taking all the necessary steps in this respect and, likewise, request the Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee of Ministers to watch the withdrawal of the 14th Army as a prior condition to be fulfilled in the admission procedure of the Russian Federation as a full member of the Council of Europe.

      Signed:

Severin, Romania, SOC

Németh, Hungary, LDR

Gricius, Lithuania, LDR

Severinsen, Denmark, LDR

Kelam, Estonia, EDG

Jaani, Estonia, EPP

Ragnarsdóttir, Iceland, EDG

Newall, United Kingdom, EDG

Schwimmer, Austria, EPP

Gelderblom-Lankhout, Netherlands, LDR

Pahor, Slovenia, SOC

Total = 11

*       SOC : Socialist Group

      EPP : Group of the European People's Party

      EDG : European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left