PRESIDENT DODON MEETS WITH TRANSNISTRIAN SETTLEMENT MEDIATORS AND OBSERVERS

On Friday, Moldova President Igor Dodon discussed Transnistrian conflict settlement issues with the representatives of the international mediators and observers taking part in the 5+2 format negotiations on Transnistria.

Dodon wrote on his Facebook page afterwards: “Today I have met with the representatives of the mediators – Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE, and of the observers – the United States and the European Union. We discussed the current situation of the Transnistrian settlement process, measures to consolidate confidence between the Dniester River banks, and the prerequisites of a possible resumption in 2020 of the political negotiations on Transnistrian conflict settlement”.

In his words, the high-ranked representatives of the 5+2 negotiating format stakeholders supported the Moldovan leadership’s general efforts aimed at promoting the settlement process, including by further realization of confidence-building measures stipulated in the Berlin Protocol of 2016.

In the course of the meeting, Igor Dodon underscored the following 3 priorities in settlement questions for the forthcoming period: (1) Human rights and democratization of Transnistria, provision of the free movement of persons, cargoes and services throughout the Republic of Moldova territory; (2) Restoration of the integral economic and trade area of the Republic of Moldova; and (3) Provision of prerequisites for resuming in 2020 the negotiations on a political settlement of the Transnistrian problem.

Igor Dodon expressed hope that the joint efforts by the mediators and observers should open a good perspective for holding a 5+2 format meeting in the nearest future.

On Friday, the representatives of the 5+2 negotiation participants are yet to meet with officials from the Moldovan Government and Transnistrian administration.

Last week, Ambassador Claus Neukirch, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, and President Putin’s Special Envoy at the Transnistria negotiations, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Sergey Gubarev spoke out for resuming regular talks in the 5+2 format. This year’s first round of such negotiations may take place in September.