OSCE chief hails progress in Transdniestrian settlement talks

PanARMENIAN.Net - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore, welcomed the progress achieved in official 5+2 talks towards a Transdniestrian settlement that ended in Dublin February 29.

“I am encouraged by the constructive approach shown here in Dublin, and I urge the participants to build on this to finalize agreement on the principles and procedures for the conduct of negotiations as soon as possible,” said the OSCE Chairperson, who opened the meeting.

This would enable the 5+2 to move forward on more substantial issues with a view towards a comprehensive resolution of the Transdniestrian conflict. The people living on both sides of the river deserve no less.”

The participants agreed to establish a regular rhythm for holding 5+2 meetings throughout the year, with the next one scheduled to take place in Vienna in the second half of April.

Ambassador Erwan Fouéré, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian settlement process, chaired the two-day meeting. Participants included the Moldovan and Transdniestrian Chief Negotiators Eugen Carpov and Nina Shtanski, as well as representatives of the mediators and observers.

The 5+2 format includes representatives of the sides, mediators and observers in the negotiation process – Moldova, Transdniestria, the OSCE, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the US and the EU. Official negotiations were resumed in November 2011 following a hiatus of almost six years, OSCE official website reported.