The Foreign Ministry hosted the meeting of Vitaly Ignatiev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR with Thomas Mayr-Harting, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. Anna Lyberg, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of Moldova and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Klaus Neukirch attended the meeting as well.
Meeting the guests, Vitaly Ignatiev noted that cooperation dynamics between Pridnestrovie and the OSCE remains very high. “The beginning of the year is quite difficult. Some difficulties appeared within the relationship with the Moldovan side, they are connected to certain Pridnestrovian cargo detaining and to threats of introducing additional limitation forms and measures towards the Pridnestrovian transport. All this taken together conditions an active Pridnestrovian cooperation with international partners aimed at not allowing situation worsening”.
Diplomats highlighted some relevant aspects within the negotiation process between Pridnestrovie and Moldova with an emphasis on the course of agreements implementation in the framework of the Berlin+ package. Special attention was paid to transport issues. In this context, Vitaly Ignatiev emphasized that it is inadmissible unilaterally introducing any limitation measures, using pressing elements or blackmailing in the condition when the VRO mechanism does not duly function and as a result a lot of Pridnestrovian drivers cannot participate in the international traffic. According to the Head of the Foreign Ministry, experts have determined a range of problems on the VRO functioning, including drivers’ licenses, the impossibility to register cargo and passenger transport units and a range of other issues that require early solution. Along with, the Head of the Pridnestrovian MFA drew attention that the first Expert (Working) Groups meeting this year showed Kishinev’s lack of readiness to move towards settling the above-mentioned issues.
Continuing the discussion, Vitaly Ignatiev noted the Moldovan side not being fulfilling its obligations on criminal cases issues, including in the context of point 5 of the Protocol Decision dated November 25 (on land using in the Pridnestrovian Dubossary district) and on telecommunication issues.
Interlocutors also positively assessed the Expert (Working) Groups on Healthcare last week meeting. Together with, Vitaly Ignatiev emphasized it is extremely important that there are no politicizing elements and blockings when importing to Pridnestrovie vaccines and subsequently effecting population’s immunization process.
During the communication, Thomas Mayr-Harting informed the Head of the PMR’s MFA on planned events in the framework of the negotiation process and, as well about the visit of Ann Linde (the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden) and of mediators and observes delegation that is slated for mid-February. A discussion on prospects for holding a “5+2” format meeting was separately held.
“Traditionally, we stand for active work at all negotiation process levels, since letting it exist and solving problems is the most important factor that allows to safeguard Pridnestrovian residents’ right and interests. This is Pridnestrovie’s official position, it has been identified as at the working level, as when notifying our partners. We’d like to have a systemic dialogue, including in the “Permanent Conference…” format. We pin our hopes for this format to get activated on the Swedish Chairmanship of the OSCE,” Vitaly Ignatiev said.
The working discussion with the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office continued at the meeting with the PMR’s President, Vadim Krasnoselsky.
