Ambassadors to OSCE, in Moldova, support resumption of official 5+2 talks in September

CHISINAU, 7 July 2011 – The need to restart official negotiations without preconditions between the sides in the Transdniestrian conflict was reiterated by Ambassador Renatas Norkus of Lithuania, the Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, in today’s meetings with the Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat and the Parliament Speaker and Acting President Marian Lupu.

The conflict settlement process, fostering confidence building measures between the two banks of the Nistru (Dnestr) river with special emphasis on the resumption of railway traffic, the internal political situation, protection of human rights are some of the issues which the ambassadors and representatives from 19 permanent delegations to the OSCE in Vienna are discussing during their four days visit to Moldova. The visit includes meetings with representatives of the Moldovan Government and Members of Parliament, representatives of the Transdniestrian leadership, the Joint Military Command in Bender and members of civil society on both banks of the Dniestr/Nistru River.

“By coming here together we wish to show our sincere support to the sides to move forward in the negotiation process. We believe that it will be possible to restart official negotiations in the 5+2 format in September, but this will require flexibility and understanding on both sides,” said Ambassador Norkus.  

The 5+2 format comprises the sides, mediators and observers in the negotiation process: the Republic of Moldova, Transdniestria, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the OSCE, the United States and the European Union.