The German diplomat will take office in 2016 within the framework of the chairmanship of the Federal Republic of Germany to the OSCE
A meeting of Acting Foreign Minister of the PMR Vitaly Ignatiev with future Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman, Ambassador Cord Hinrich Meier-Klodt took place at the Pridnestrovian Foreign Ministry. The delegation of the German Foreign Ministry also included Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Moldova Ulrike Maria Knotz.
Welcoming the guests, Vitaly Ignatiev expressed gratitude to the German side for the efforts undertaken in the framework of the settlement of Moldova-Pridnestrovie relations. In addition, the head of the Foreign Ministry highly appreciated the opportunity to exchange views with the interlocutor before taking up duties of the Special Representative of the OSCE on the most problematic and sensitive issues of the negotiation process, and to discuss prospects for further cooperation.
“Unfortunately, the state of the negotiation process between Moldova and Pridnestrovie comes short of satisfactory: in our bilateral relations there are a number of problems that set the settlement process back, constitute threats to the formation of an atmosphere of constructive dialogue. All these aspects certainly need a detailed discussion,” - emphasized Vitaly Ignatiev.
The head of the Pridnestrovian diplomacy said that today there is a particular need for “serious, thoughtful and substantive preparatory work in order to realize the goals and objectives to find the optimal conditions to improve the lives of people in Pridnestrovie and Moldova, assigned to members of the international negotiation format “5+2”.
During the meeting, the head of the Foreign Ministry of Pridnestrovie expressed confidence that the main threat to the stability of the negotiation process and in the conflict region in general are unilateral actions of some participants of the dialogue. The diplomat noted that during Moldova-Pridnestrovie settlement process a significant aggravation of contradictions in one area or another usually was a consequence of snap unilateral actions, and taking the circumstance into account Pridnestrovie offers to be guided by the “do no harm” principle in the dialogue.
The head of the Pridnestrovian Foreign Ministry noted that over the past few years the Republic of Moldova initiated a number of such unilateral restrictive measures of pressure on Pridnestrovie in various fields. The diplomat cited as an example the problem deteriorated in 2014 of politically motivated prosecution of representatives of Pridnestrovie in Moldova, as well as some discriminatory measures taken by the Moldovan authorities in the field of freedom of movement of Pridnestrovian citizens and freight railway communication through the territory of the republic. Vitaly Ignatiev made a particular emphasis on Moldova and Ukraine’s intention to establish a joint customs and border control on the Pridnestrovian-Ukrainian border. The implementation of this unilateral step, according to the head of the MFA of the PMR, can negatively affect both the economic situation in Pridnestrovie, and the prospects of the negotiation process on the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian settlement.
In this regard, the Acting Foreign Minister drew the attention of the German side to the fact that Pridnestrovie for a long period of time refrained from symmetric response against Moldova on the most problematic areas, following the logic and principles of the negotiations.
In the course of the meeting Cord Meier-Klodt, in his turn, confirmed that today in the relationship of the parties there are a range of problems requiring immediate solution at the negotiation table. “In my opinion, the hour of the diplomats has arrived. You can solve the problem wisely, diplomatically, another option - to try to solve them in any other way. I believe and I am confident you will agree that the first way of solving problems is the surest one, and it is in this direction that we should concentrate our efforts,” - said the Ambassador.
Cord Meier-Klodt also highly appreciated the results of the Conference on confidence-building measures held in German Rottach-Egern on 29-30 October and expressed gratitude to Vitaly Ignatiev for “the personal contribution to the organization of the Conference and for literally the personal engagement in the hard work of the negotiations”.
