Acting Foreign Minister of the PMR Vitaly Ignatiev received a large OSCE delegation headed by Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Cord Hinrich Meier-Klodt.
During the meeting the sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues in the context of the current situation in the negotiation process between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. Vitaly Ignatiev expressed gratitude to the German side for the efforts made in the framework of the “shuttle diplomacy” aimed at strengthening the systemic bilateral cooperation on the track of settlement of Moldovan-Pridnestrovian relations. The diplomat noted that the Pridnestrovian side expected that the German Chairmanship to the OSCE would be dynamic and productive.
“I hope that your visit will give our Moldovan partners some “courage”, and we finally will begin to work systematically. For our part, we are ready for a serious substantive dialogue, and you can certainly count on Pridnestrovie as a reliable, cooperative partner,” said the head of the Foreign Ministry of the PMR.
Cord Meier-Klodt, in his turn, noted that today the parties should focus on resolving the most pressing issues of socio-economic nature, affecting the well-being of people. The German diplomat also announced the visit planned of the “3+2” delegation (mediators and observers) to Pridnestrovie and Moldova for the beginning of April 2016, which, according to the OSCE Chairmanship, would help to form the agenda of a possible meeting of the “Permanent Conference ...”. In this context, Cord Meier-Klodt stressed the need to intensify cooperation between the parties at the level of expert (working) groups, as well as representatives on political issues in the “1+1” format.
During the meeting, Vitaly Ignatiev said that the Pridnestrovian side fully supported the OSCE Chairmanship’s position on that matter, because while the meetings at the level of experts and political representatives slip, the number of problems in the relations of Pridnestrovie and Moldova increases, and on the background of “positive declarations of the Moldovan government” on Pridnestrovie aimed blows are struck. Acting Minister also said that the approach of the German side was largely correlated with the paradigm of dialogue proposed by Pridnestrovie in 2012, i.e. the “tactics of small steps”, noting also that “small, but concrete and practical solutions are better than big declarations.”
The head of the Pridnestrovian diplomacy stressed that Pridnestrovie had already submitted to the Moldovan side, as well as to all “5+2” participants, significant amount of groundwork and practical models to solve problems in various fields, in particular in the field of transport. Thus, according to Vitaly Ignatiev, the parties have good reasons to work on positive practical steps that would intensify the negotiation process.
The Acting Minister Foreign reiterates that to date a number of unilateral measures taken by the Republic of Moldova, including in cooperation with Ukraine, significantly complicates the socio-economic situation in the country, prevents the normal bilateral dialogue, and destroys trust between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. According to Vitaly Ignatiev, problem aspects in politically motivated prosecutions of citizens of Pridnestrovie, freedom of movement, rail freight communication through the territory of the republic, as well as the possible establishment of a joint customs and border control on the Pridnestrovian-Ukrainian border by Moldova and Ukraine are particularly acute.
According to the head of Foreign Ministry, expert groups of the parties should work actively in each of these areas, which will develop drafts for mutually and positive solutions. “To create additional problems to Pridnestrovie is a prospectless way,” concluded the diplomat.
After the meeting Vitaly Ignatiev and Cord Hinrich Meier-Klodt answered journalists' questions.
