The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PMR held a press briefing after meeting between acting Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev and Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Cord Meier-Klodt.
Speaking to journalists the German diplomat outlined the intensification of negotiation process between Pridnestrovie and Moldova as his first priority in order to achieve positive results on the most topical issues of bilateral relations.
“We need to revive and give new energy to the interaction at all levels of the negotiation structure. And my main task was already during preparation for the new appointment to include representatives of all the countries-members of the “5+2” format, as well as other international partners, in this process to give necessary impetus. My goal is resumption of functioning of the “5+2” format, restoration of the political importance of this negotiation platform in order to carry out the real work for the benefit of citizens. For that, we should make progress on key issues in areas such as trade, transport, education, and others. Therefore, we hope for activity of working groups and, above all, for a direct and open dialogue of political representatives of the parties in the “1+1” format, because it is in this format real problems are solved and real proposals are born, which serve as a basis for further efforts. There are obstacles, large and small, that we need to overcome. And I can say that during my meetings with other partners, including from Kishinev, I found support and a deep understanding of the need to give new impetus to the negotiation process. I think my main task is to assist in resolving this issue,” said Cord Meier-Klodt.
Head of the Foreign Ministry Vitaly Ignatiev, in his turn, said that the Pridnestrovian side outlined at the meeting a number of sensitive issues of concern connected with the Moldova and Ukraine’s introduction of an array of restrictive measures against Pridnestrovie.
“These actions were taken outside the negotiation mechanisms without taking into account the Pridnestrovian side’s position and views, they entail socio-economic and humanitarian negative effects. We believe that such approaches are counterproductive, they do not allow us to move forward, they prevent from establishing an atmosphere of trust and from taking a positive decision, which could have a positive impact on the lives of the citizens of Pridnestrovie. Therefore, we fully support the intention of German Chairmanship to achieve concrete results. We can talk a lot about what we do, there are so many Moldovan partners’ declarations on certain readiness for some negotiations, but in fact only the result can draw a line under the work done, and all our policy in this area is built on the basis of this paradigm. We hope that today we have found understanding of our partners and it is in this way we will work,” said Vitaly Ignatiev.
As said by the head of the PMR’s MFA, the dynamics of bilateral dialogue in view of the Moldovan side’s position has been substantially reduced in many areas, and the past meeting of political representatives of the parties in the “1+1” format was held on October 9, 2015. At the same time, according to the diplomat, the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation derives from the existance of a number of sensitive issues that require immediate solutions.
“Despite Pridnestrovie’s readiness for the systemic work, we do not see such position of our partners. I hope that today’s visit of the Ambassador will also give some impetus, and in the near future we will see a good, meaningful, substantive work on a wide range of problematic issues at the levels of negotiation process that will allow us to come closer to a decision, to develop drafts agreements, some models that can actually be approved already at higher levels. Therefore, we expect the positive dynamics, real action on the part of the Republic of Moldova in this issue,” concluded the diplomat.
