The Foreign Ministry hosted the meeting between PMR Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev and the European Union delegation led by Dorota Dlouchy-Suliga, the EU representative in the 5+2 negotiating process.
The main focus of the discussion was on the prospects for normalizing the situation in the negotiation process. The PMR Foreign Minister stressed the importance of making efforts to maintain peace and stability between Moldova and Pridnestrovie. In his words, international mediation is particularly needed when the quality of interaction at the level of political representatives and experts of the sides “leaves much to be desired”.
“Our principled approach is that any tools should be used to move the peace negotiation process forward. It is crucial that all participants, including international mediators and observers, act in synergy and pull together in one direction,” said the Minister.
Next, the interlocutors reviewed the problems in the settlement process at the current stage. Vitaly Ignatiev reiterated that Chisinau driven by political reasons refuses to comply with the previously reached agreements and stymies the resolution of issues related to the import of medicines to Pridnestrovie, the unblocking of the VRO functioning, the banking and financial blockade, the freedom of movement of Pridnestrovian citizens, etc. He stated that the last contacts at the level of political representatives “had no added value” and that there is still no answer from the Moldovan side regarding the security guarantees for the Pridnestrovian delegation at the next 1+1 meeting in Chisinau. In this context, referring to the amendments to the Moldovan Criminal Code under the so-called “law on separatism”, the parties concurred on the need to abstain from actions which negatively affect the dialogue.
Furthermore, initiatives to revitalize the negotiating process were discussed. The diplomats expressed their commitment to the exclusively peaceful means in resolving all the problems in the unsettled Moldova-Pridnestrovie conflict, as well as their support for the Berlin Plus package implementation and further functioning of the 5+2 format.
Separately, the Minister highlighted concerns of the Pridnestrovian side regarding Moldova’s rapid militarisation, including with the financial support of the European Union. He noted that from the peace preservation standpoint, “it would be useful to arm the neighbouring state with diplomatic tools”.
In conclusion, the parties agreed to continue the dialogue on the whole range of relevant aspects of the negotiation process.
