​5+2 TALK RESUMPTION IS “UNDOUBTED SUCCESS” – GERMAN OSCE PRESIDENCY

The German OSCE presidency perceives as an undoubted success the restarting of the 5+2 format negotiations on Transnistrian conflict settlement, the Special Representative of the German OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transnistrian Settlement Process, Ambassador Cord Meier-Klodt, stated at the final news conference in Berlin on Friday. The transmission of the news conference, with the possibility to ask questions, was organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova.

On the results of the Berlin negotiations, the 5+2 parties concerned [Moldova and Transnistria as the conflicting sides, Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE as international mediators and guarantors (5); and the European Union and the United States as observers (2)] signed a protocol determining further objectives.

Cord Meier-Klodt said: “It is very important that we have restored the main platform – the 5+2 format negotiations. This is the result of the joint efforts by the mediators from Russia and Ukraine and of the observers – the USA and EU. Such unity in approaches manifested itself a month ago, when all of us together undertook a voyage to Chisinau and Tiraspol and worked out a roadmap for further work”.

The diplomat stressed that further negotiations will be held not for the sake of negotiations, but for making real steps forward and for solving problems in the interests of the people living on both Dniester River sides. Cord Meier-Klodt underlined that the German OSCE presidency has set itself an objective to promote to a maximum-possible extent the settlement of protracted conflicts in the vast OSCE area.

“German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeyer, who took floor at the Berlin Conference opening, also stated this. We are happy that by joint effort we have succeeded to resume the Transnistria negotiations”, said Cord Meier-Klodt.

He reminded that the traditional conference on building confidence between Chisinau and Tiraspol will be held in Bavaria in mid-July.

Answering journalists’ questions, the diplomat said that the date of the next round of the 5+2 format talks on Transnistria settlement has not been determined yet.

“There is the Roadmap, and the Protocol signed here in Berlin. It is obvious that the Transnistria settlement question cannot be resolved tomorrow. We will be taking decisions step by step so as to determine our further actions. The next item on our agenda is the informal conference on confidence-building measures to be organized in Bavaria in the middle of July. We will be determining our further steps together. Our goal is to move forward. It is very important that we have started moving and resumed the talks”, said Ambassador Cord Meier-Klodt.

According to him, further steps and the timeframes have been stipulated in the signed Protocol that will be published on the OSCE website.

Ambassador Michael Scanlan, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, said that the signed Protocol defined the most acute problems in the Transnistria settlement process and timeframes for carrying out the measures for resolving the problems. The Protocol stipulates the solution of problems in the spheres of education, telecommunications, transport and some other. The diplomat voiced hope that the constructive approach, demonstrated by all the 5+2 parties, should enable the realization of the set tasks.