Tiraspol, December 27. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The 5 + 2 negotiation format is the only internationally recognized negotiation platform for solving the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian problem. This opinion was expressed by Ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Gubarev in an interview with TASS. According to him, "this mechanism is quite effective," and "creating other, additional formats will be counterproductive ... and will only complicate the achievement of the ultimate goal."
At the same time, Gubarev noted that the 5 + 2 format (PMR and RM are parties; Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE are mediators, the US and the EU are observers) was more effective when working in accordance with the “Principles and Procedures for Negotiating” in the framework of the Permanent Meeting”. This document defines the rules and procedures for negotiating.
“This document provides, in particular, for five to six meetings a year in the 5 + 2 format. Although, six meetings have never been held, but we still managed to meet four to five times a year. Such periodicity is extremely important not only because this format provides an analysis of the situation. His “collective mind” helps outline future solutions to existing issues,” Gubarev said.
The Russian diplomat noted that one of the right tools used in this format was to indicate the timing of the implementation of decisions made. According to Gubarev, this ensured control and disciplined the parties, as they assumed international obligations.
“Of course, it would be perfect to get the parties to include the agreements reached in the national legislation (such a proposal was formally made by the Russian delegation at the 5 + 2 format meeting in Berlin in the summer of 2016), but this remains to be worked out,” the Ambassador-at-large from the Russian Foreign Ministry explained.
At the same time, Gubarev stated that that year has been unusually fruitful for the negotiation process on the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian settlement.
“We have repeatedly talked about the reasons. In many ways, the electoral and post-electoral processes on the right bank of the Dniester in Chisinau played a part here. They were really difficult. Three governments in Chisinau and, accordingly, three Deputy Prime Ministers for reintegration, who take part in the negotiation process, were replaced,” the Russian diplomat said.
This year, negotiations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova, with the filing of Chisinau, have virtually come to a deadlock. The Republic of Moldova not only does not fulfill obligations under the previous agreements, but has also taken new actions to put pressure on the PMR, which the OSCE experts also admitted. Chisinau actually disrupted the negotiations at the level of the Permanent Meeting in the 5 + 2 format, refusing to sign the final protocol in Bratislava. Despite the efforts of intermediaries, the document had never been signed before the end of the year.
