On February 28-29, 2012, Dublin witnessed the second round of official consultations in 5+2 format on settlement of Moldova-Pridnestrovie relations. Participating in the two-day meeting were political representatives of Pridnestrovie and Moldova – Nina Shtanski and Yevgeny Karpov, representatives of states – guarantors of the settlement – the Russian Federation and Ukraine, representatives of intermediary – the OSCE and observers to the negotiation process – the USA and the EU.
The sitting was held under direction of Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Erwan Fouere. During the consultations principles and procedures of conduct of negotiations and certain practical issues and schedule of holding of future meetings were discussed.
The meeting was opened by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland Eamon Gilmore. He urged the sides to constructive work with the purpose of the soonest finalization of activity on developing of agreement on principles and procedures for the conduct of the negotiations. “This would enable the 5+2 format to move forward on more substantial issues with a view towards a comprehensive resolution of the Pridnestrovien conflict. The people living on both sides of the Dniester deserve no less,” the OSCE Chairman-in-Office said.
Commenting the results of the two-day round of consultations, Pridnestrovien political representative, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR Nina Shtanski reported, that the sides managed to move forward on certain issues. Thus, according to her, “consent was reached regarding the principle of fulfillment in good faith of mutually approved agreements”. Besides, the Moldovan side assented to the position of the Pridnestrovien side on the fact that “the documents worked out are subject to signing by the sides in the established order”.
A significant compromise was reached also on the issue of earlier signed agreements and documents. When working out agreements, they will be taken into consideration by Kishinev and Tiraspol. In opinion of the Pridnestrovien side, using existing results in years long negotiation process will raise efficiency of further work of the Permanent Conference.
At the same time, as Nina Shtanski mentioned, the Moldovan side did not agree to fix the principle of equality of the sides in the framework of the negotiation process regardless the fact that other participants gave their approval of this position considering it as a fundamental one for conducting a constructive dialogue. “Eventually, the sides failed to agree upon signing of the document on the principles and procedures for carrying out negotiations. Discussion of the given document will be continued in the course of the next round of consultations,” the diplomat told.
In the course of the meeting, the Pridnestrovien side also submitted to the participants of the Permanent Conference its proposals for unblocking transport link through the Pridnestrovien territory which were earlier forwarded to the Moldovan side in the course of bilateral contacts. Besides, the participants of the meeting received proposals of Pridnestrovie regarding the basis of the system of guarantees in the process of the Moldova-Pridnestrovie settlement and on aligning some aspects of expert work of the sides.
The next meeting in the 5+2 format is scheduled for the second half of April and will take place in Vienna.
