On July 15, 2009, a meeting between the Pridnestrovian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Yastrebchak and Deputy Head of the British Embassy in Moldova John Mitchell was held. During the conversation issues of the current situation in the Moldova-Pridnestrovie settlement as well as home policy processes in Kishinev and Tiraspol were discussed.
John Mitchell was also interested in the outcomes of the recent seminar in Austria in which the Pridnestrovian and Moldavian representatives participated. In particular, he wanted to know the estimation of the Pridnestrovian side. Vladimir Yastrebchak marked the usefulness of the given event both for the conflict sides and international partners while the latter got the chance to learn about the situation first-hand. The Minister also stressed the effectiveness of the seminar in the context of setting the necessary base for restarting consultations in the “5+2” format.
Touching upon the item of the current relations between Kishinev and Tiraspol, Vladimir Yastrebchak stated that the key problems are now lying not in the political sphere while no solutions are seen there for the time being but rather in the lack of proper cooperation on the expert level. In this regard the Minister turned attention to the lasting absence of contacts between the law-enforcement structures of Moldova and Pridnestrovie what prevents them from raising effectiveness of their anticriminal warfare. Speaking about the work of expert groups, Vladimir Yastrebchak emphasized that their aim is to predetermine the resumption of the dialogue between the sides.
John Mitchell noted that Great Britain being the EU member intends to work within the European projects which are implemented here but is also ready for the independent activity in the given direction. Vladimir Yastrebchak assured the Pridnestrovian side would welcome the participation of Great Britain in social, economic or ecological spheres which the European Union concentrates its attention on.
The British diplomat was also interested in the way the home policy processes in Kishinev and Tiraspol influence the terms of Moldova-Pridnestrovie settlement resumption. He marked that the electoral process in Moldova slows down the normal cooperation in this direction. Vladimir Yastrebchak noted that authorities acting in Pridnetrovie are legally capable and competent enough to make own decisions. Besides, in spite of the home policy processes the positions of Kishinev and Tiraspol will anyway remain unchanged.
The diplomats discussed other issues as well.
