On September 22, Tiraspol saw the visit of the delegation of mediators' and observers' representatives in the Moldova-Pridnestrovie settlement negotiating process. It consisted of Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-office, Ambassador Bolat Nurgaliev, Ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Gubarev, Director General of the Division of Political Affairs at the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexandr Alexandrovich, EU Special Representative for Moldova, Ambassador Kalman Miszei, Head of the European Commission's Delegation in Moldova Dirk Shuebel, US Ambassador to Moldova Asif J. Chaudhry and Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Philip Remler.
At the meeting which took place in Pridnestrovian Ministry of Foreign Affairs the foreign diplomats discussed with the Head of the foreign policy department, Vladimir Yastrebchak, the prospects for resolution of problems existing in relations between Tiraspol and Chisinau, in particular, issues of cooperation between expert (working) groups.
After the meeting, the PMR's MFA Head told the journalists that during the conversation there had been an exchange of views as regards the agenda of the possible informal consultations in Vienna. At the same time, Vladimir Yastrebchak stressed that the meeting in the format “Russia, Ukraine, OSCE, EU, USA and Pridnestrovie” is also important and up-to-date. He marked the attention shown by mediators and observers towards the work of expert (working) groups of Chisinau and Tiraspol. These particular contacts are presently most efficient in dealing with problems affecting interests of Moldovan and Pridnestrovian people. Among them are issues regarding guarantees in the negotiating process and also observance of the right for freedom of movement of people, goods and services through the borders in this region of Europe. The diplomat highly estimated the work of the Kazakh Chairmanship at OSCE and expressed appreciation for all the efforts taken by Kazakh diplomats during this year in order to solve problems that are of practical meaning for the population of two republics.
Taking stock of the meeting in the Pridnestrovian Foreign Ministry, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-office Bolat Nurgaliev estimated it as substantial and meaningful. “We are now making an inventory of the problems existing in relations between the sides in order to define key issues that potentially can incite a conflict. The main goal of such work is at early stages to prevent these issues from growing into serious problems”, the diplomat told. He specified that the number of such topical issues being currently under examination is 26, with 13 of them having been presented by each side. “Along with natural aspiration to settle problems of political settlement it is necessary in first row to think about the interests of the population and try by all means to better people's lot. After all, it is the citizens who are to gain benefit once the problems raised are resolved”, said Bolat Nurgaliev.
Giving his evaluation of the work of the Kazakh Chairmanship at OSCE, the diplomat told that in his view the main political goal at this stage is “to restart official negotiating process” for Moldova-Pridnestrovie settlement in the five plus format. The following year the OSCE Chairmanship is moving to Lithuania and today, according to Bolat Nurgaliev, it is important to ensure continuity of all the results that were reached in a time of Kazakhstan's OSCE Chairmanship. “What we deal with is a protracted conflict and one could hardly offer something quite substantial within 12 months. We, at least, have tried to fairly assist the sides in finding solution for the current situation”, told the diplomat.
