Following the meeting with the delegation of the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PMR Vitaly Ignatiev and Wolf Dietrich Heim answered journalists’ questions.
Commenting on the results of the dialogue, the Austrian diplomat said that there is a significant number of issues to resolve at the negotiation table where the OSCE Chairmanship intends to make progress. “On the substance we have basically all the items which have been discussed last year under the German Chairmanship. We have seen new issues and new approaches and I think we are quite confident that with a little bit of flexibility of all sides involved we will see progress this year. While we are here in January we are confident that we will have more than one 5+2 meeting in the course of this year” – said Wolf Dietrich Heim.
“I think it all depends on the substance that we are able to prepare and negotiate and bring to a state where we can also see delivery of problems to a solution phase. I think it is not enough to discuss in a more general philosophical approach the solutions unless we see them implementable, unless we see that the sides can agree on implementation and also the support of the international partners in this process” – concluded Wolf Dietrich Heim.
In his turn Vitaly Ignatiev noted that success in the negotiation process depends not only on the effectiveness of the OSCE Chairmanship, but on the willingness of the parties to reach a compromise.
“Mr. Heim received quite troublesome “inheritance” in the form of problems previously accumulated and I would like to thank the Austrian Chairmanship for the commitment to resolve problems reflected in the Berlin Protocol, as well as other critical aspects in the relations between Moldova and Pridnestrovie. We have no shortage of drafts or models of solutions – the Pridnestrovian side has developed initiatives for the most of the issues taking into account the international recommendations” – said the Foreign Minister of the PMR.
According to him, the Pridnestrovian side focused on some topical issues at the meeting, in particular, import of goods by rail, participation of vehicles registered in Pridnestrovie in international traffic, education, communications, as well as politically motivated criminal prosecution of Pridnestrovian citizens by the Republic of Moldova.
“Special focus was on adherence of Pridnestrovie to use the mechanisms of the negotiation process at all levels, the need for significant work at the level of expert (working) groups, rhythmic and substantive interaction at the “Permanent Conference…” level. In two weeks we expect the visit of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Mr. Sebastian Kurz. I hope that we will continue our substantive work on the broad agenda of the negotiation process at that meeting” – said Vitaly Ignatiev.
