On February 7 a. c. OSCE Office in Tiraspol hosted Andrey Deshchitsa, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Protracted Conflicts, who answered the questions of journalists following the results of the meeting with Nina Shtanski, Deputy Chairperson of the Government of the PMR on Issues of International Cooperation, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and with the Expert (Working) Groups on Issues of Transport and Road Facilities Development from Pridnestrovie and Moldova.
Andrey Deshchitsa told that his visits to Kishinev and Tiraspol are aimed at the arrangements for the next round of negotiations in the “5+2” format which is scheduled for February 18-19 in Lvov. He reminded that Ukraine holding the OSCE chairmanship in this year has set out its priority to the issues concerning the relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. “This issue is very clear for us. Ukraine has been involved in the negotiation process for a long time and we have got some experience. Besides, we have historical ties and geographical neighbourhood. We are interested in the Pridnestrovian settlement to be resolved as quickly as possible,” said the Ukrainian diplomat.
Andrey Deshchitsa also noted that Ukraine is interested in conformity of the settlement process with the agenda agreed last year. “Our activities will be focused on settlement of particular issues that will further advancement of conditions for people living on both banks of the river Dniester. One of these issues is the opening of the Gura Bicului-Bychok Bridge. We see progress relating to this issue and we hope that its settlement will bring positive results,” assured the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. He also brought to notice that Ukraine, for its part, is willing to provide conditions for active and fruitful work of the parties, as well as to enhance atmosphere of confidence between Pridnestrovie and Moldova at the levels of governments, political representatives and civil society. “In the coming year we intend to provide conditions for direct contacts between governments of Pridnestrovie and Moldova, regular contacts between the political representatives of the parties, and for the work of expert groups under the assistance of the OSCE. These activities shall be arranged in addition to the “5+2” format meetings. We intend to continue the practice launched during the Irish Chairmanship - the interaction with the media. We also invite Ukrainian NGOs to cooperate in this field. We are very hopeful of parliamentary cooperation between Tiraspol and Kishinev, both sides showed interest in this concern,” Andrey Deshchitsa said.
Answering the question about possible consideration of the political status of Pridnestrovie during the forthcoming meeting in Lvov the Ukrainian diplomat noted that this issue could be raised only after building of strong confidence between the parties. “We must realize that eventually the negotiation process comes to a point when parties have to discuss political issues. This is reality. And we will work to provide conditions for strengthening confidence between Pridnestrovie and Moldova in order to start discussion of this issue by parties,” concluded Andrey Deshchitsa.
