The Transnistrian conflict – new opportunities and old obstacles for trust building (2009–2010)

Abstract

Among the four unsettled conflicts in the wider Black Sea region the Transnistrian one is often described as the most solvable. Between 2009 and 2010 the conflict in Transnistria emerged as an important security issue on the European agenda. This article intends to demonstrate how a myriad of global, regional and domestic developments provided a fresh start for building trust between the key regional actors, and synergy for creating a favourable setting for a sustainable solution in the long run. However, these new tendencies around Transnistria evolved in parallel with the inertia of old agendas and competing regional security logic. Hence, the article will also address the obstacles which precluded progress towards a propitious environment for conflict resolution. It will conclude with considerations of where the conflict settlement stands and what may be expected in the mid and long term.