The Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting between Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR Vitaly Ignatiev and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to the Republic of Moldova Christine Freilinger.
During the meeting Vitaly Ignatiev provided the Austrian Ambassador with insight into the current situation in the negotiation process between Pridnestrovie and the Republic of Moldova. The Head of the Pridnestrovian Foreign Ministry noted some positive developments in the dialogue, which took place during the German Chairmanship in the OSCE, in particular, referring to the signing of the Berlin Protocol. At the same time, according to the diplomat, past six months were marked by a major decline in the dynamics and reduction of communication between the parties.
“There are many issues and draft resolutions on the table, which should be discussed. The Berlin Protocol, in our opinion, is an up-to-date document and we must work substantively towards implementations of its main provisions” – Vitaly Ignatiev stressed.
The Foreign Minister of Pridnestrovie drew attention of the interlocutor to significantly strengthened measures of pressure on Pridnestrovie by Moldova this year. According to Vitaly Ignatiev, “this situation is poisoning the atmosphere of trust and hinders the negotiation process”. In this regard, he expressed hopes for support by international partners, including the Austrian Chairmanship in the OSCE in the coming year.
“The existing negotiation mechanism was created as a practical tool to assist the parties to the conflict in a situation where they cannot reach a compromise. We expect that potential of the negotiation framework will be used in full in the coming year. There is a public demand for positive solutions, so we hope for reciprocal steps by the Moldovan and international partners” – concluded the diplomat.
During the meeting the sides also discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation in Austria and Pridnestrovie in the socio-humanitarian and economic spheres.
