TIRASPOL HOPES SLOVAKIAN OSCE PRESIDENCY WILL HELP IN TRANSNISTRIAN SETTLEMENT

Minister of foreign affairs of the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan republic (PMR) Vitaly Ignatiev hopes that the Moldovan-Transnistrian conflict settlement will become the most important direction within the Slovakian OSCE Presidency in 2019.

According to the region's foreign office, on Thursday he met with a delegation of the Slovak Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, headed with State Secretary Lukasz Parizek.

According to the ministry, the Transnistrian side adheres to seeking ways for constructive dialog with Moldova.

"We are glad about the Slovakia's attention and I think that we have objectively coinciding interests, connected with the seeking of solutions of long-standing problems. I am sure that we have to cancel restrictions, sanctions and other negative things that hinder the people's normal life in all the fields: economy, freedom of movement, education", he said.

Lucasz Parizek said that one of his visit's goals is to understand which practical steps the Slovakian OSCE Presidency in order to improve people's daily life.

"There are many challenges concerning security and conflicts we have to work on. Already now I can said that in the situation with Transnistria it seems that there is the greatest potential for a breakthrough, for concrete steps, which are already being implemented and can serve an example for other regions in future", the diplomat said.

The discussion participants said that the 5+2 format is still called "Bratislava format", as the first sitting of negotiation participants was conducted in the Slovakia's capital city.

The sides expressed mutual interest to rhythmic character of the international consultation mechanism in the period of Slovakian OSCE Presidency in 2019 and readiness to the meeting before the end of 2018.