The negotiations between Moldova and Pridnestrovie at the level of the 5+2 format has been suspended due to politically motivated criminal prosecution undertaken by Moldova against Pridnestrovian citizens. In the meantime, visits of the international mediators to Kishinev and Tiraspol will help the sides resume a dialogue, Russia's political representative for the Pridnestrovian settlement, MFA ambassador at large Sergey Gubarev, told a TASS journalist, the Russian news agency's website reports.
«I am glad that the OSCE special representative for the Pridnestrovian settlement, Cord Meier-Klodt, have espoused my idea of resuming such visits to make an objective evaluation of the current state of affairs," he noted. «Such visits have ceased for some reason, which is radically wrong. We have discussed this issue with the sides and agreed to resume the visits. The first one may take place this spring.»
According to Gubarev, direct contacts between mediators and observers with Moldovan and Pridnestrovian representatives are necessary to break the stalemate in the 5+2 format talks. «The last meeting in this format took place over a year and a half ago," he said. «It is time to put an end to this long and unacceptable pause and proceed to a normal and smooth negotiation work.»
«We know what was the primary reason for the suspension of official negotiations. It was the institution by Moldova of criminal prosecution against, first of all, Pridnestrovian officials. If Kishinev finds a way out of this situation, the sides will be able to return to the negotiating table," concluded the diplomat.
