Tiraspol, 16 February. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. President Yevgeny Shevchuk held a meeting with the OSCE delegation led by Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Cord Meier-Klodt, the presidential press office reports. It should be recalled in 2016 Germany presides over the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The meeting was also attended by Pridnestrovie's acting foreign minister, Vitaly Ignatyev.
Greeting the delegation, the president highlighted the significance of maintaining contacts between Pridnestrovie and the OSCE. «Pridnestrovie has always been open to international collaboration," noted Yevgeny Shevchuk.
Cord Meier-Klodt, in turn, pointed out that giving new impetus to the negotiation process is a priority of Germany's chairmanship. The German ambassador also briefed the Pridnestrovian side on the consultations he held with 5+2 format participants. «I think we both understand that first of all we have to solve concrete issues of concern to citizens. These include transportation, education, trade and telecommunication issues. These all must work. My goal is to restore this format not for meetings' sake, but to provide it with real political significance so that we could solve the issues that are really important for the sides," said the ambassador. «We have a realistic view on the situation and realise we cannot settle all problems in a month or two: Rome was not built in a day.»
During the meeting the president noted that Pridnestrovie is putting certain hopes on Germany's OSCE chairmanship, despite the existing difficulties, including the absence of official 5+2 meetings for a year and a half. «A lot of additional problems have piled up over this period. We hope that we'll be able to solve the whole range of issues within the negotiation process. We have discussed the basic strategy which may lead us to success. We need the corresponding political will and desire. Under basic circumstances the small steps tactics may lead us to success. And we are sure of it," underscored Yevgeny Shevchuk.
The president also drew the attention of meeting participants to Pridnestrovie's readiness to discuss issues at the negotiation table in any format for finding compromise solutions to the problems relating to the economy and citizens' prosperity. Yevgeny Shevchuk expressed hope that we will achieve it in 2016.
