Tiraspol, 21 February. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Pridnestrovian foreign minister Vitaly Ignatyev met adviser to the special representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office, plenipotentiary minister for the policy and security of the Italian foreign ministry Alfredo Conte.
Conte intends to study the situation in the negotiation process and prepare a visit of the special representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office on the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian conflict, Franco Frattini. The Italian diplomat highlighted Pridnestrovie's contribution to achieving "real agreements" in recent months.
"I especially emphasise the contribution of the Pridnestrovian side, whose efforts objectively contributed to the achievement of many agreements," Conte said during the meeting.
In November 2017, Kishinev and Tiraspol signed five protocol decisions on the settlement of social and humanitarian issues, which had long been a stumbling block in the relations of the parties. This includes the opening of the bridge near the villages of Bychok and Gura Bicului, the functioning of Romanian-language schools in Pridnesgtrovie, the use of farmland in the Dubossary District of the PMR and the apostille verification of Pridnestrovie-issued university diplomas.
These decisions became the prologue to a "5 +2" format meeting in Vienna, where the parties and mediators of the negotiation process signed a document confirming the Berlin protocol of 2016. Tiraspol and Kishinev agreed to solve the problems of participation of Pridnestrovian cars in the international motor traffic and politically motivated criminal cases. In addition, the parties undertook to develop a mechanism to guarantee the implementation of agreements and solve all problems exclusively at the negotiating table.
In February, the chief negotiators of Pridnestrovie and Moldova also signed a protocol on cooperation in the field of veterinary, quarantine and plant protection. In the near future, the working groups of Tiraspol and Kishinev should discuss the transport problem again.
"We expect more progress in the near future. The Italian chairmanship has appointed to this post [special representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office] a high-ranking person with experience, ex-foreign minister. This is a signal that on our part we expect even greater success and progress in this important area for us," said Conte.
Vitaly Ignatyev welcomed the intention of the Italian chairmanship to actively join in the negotiation process and assist in resolving current issues and problems in the framework of international dialogue.
"Pridnestrovie will do everything to ensure that the Italian side will get an objective view of the current situation and prospects for resolving the problems on the agenda of the negotiation process," said the Pridnestrovian diplomat.
On 1 January 2018, Italy succeeded Austria as OSCE chairman. Italian foreign minister Angelino Alfano is OSCE chairman-in-office. His special representative Franco Frattini, who is described as a supporter of an active dialogue with Russia, will deal with the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian conflict settlement.
Pridnestrovie and Moldova participate in the "5 +2" negotiations as parties to the conflict; Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE as mediators; the EU and the US as observers.
