Tiraspol, February 16. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. At the meeting in Tiraspol, the President of the PMR Vadim Krasnoselsky and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Andrey Rudenko discussed the prospects for trade and economic cooperation and further development of cultural and humanitarian contacts between the PMR and the Russian Federation. In addition, aspects of political cooperation in the 5 + 2 negotiation format, and joint efforts in the peacekeeping sphere, were touched upon.
The head of the Pridnestrovian state and the deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry spoke about this during a media scrum after the meeting.
According to Andrey Rudenko, the process of the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian settlement was discussed in detail during the talks.
“We emphasized the importance and lack of alternatives to the key 5 + 2 format. The stalling of the settlement process, which, unfortunately, has been observed in recent years, must come to an end. We expect that this year the process in the 5 + 2 format will be resumed on a systematic basis. We will hold several meetings and will be able to make progress,” the Russian Foreign Ministry representative said.
He added that the day before, a meeting of the Russian delegation, including with the political representative of the Republic of Moldova in the 5 + 2 format, Oleg Serebrian, took place in Chisinau.
“The common thing is that both Tiraspol and Chisinau are ready - at least that is how it was stated to me yesterday - to constructively approach the resumption of negotiations. Russia, for its part, will provide support in every possible way so that these negotiations lead to some concrete result, because, unfortunately, the last three years have turned out to be a missed opportunity,” Andrey Rudenko stressed.
Pridnestrovian President Vadim Krasnoselsky, in turn, noted that “today, it seems, there are some positive signals from the Moldovan side about the resumption of work in the 5+2 format. Probably, this spring. At the same time, according to Vadim Krasnoselsky, the issue of the agenda of the meetings of the format will be very important.
"I believe that the main concept of 5 + 2 is, first of all, the implementation of previously reached agreements," the President of the PMR said.
He commended the President of Moldova, Maya Sandu`s recent statement that the Republic of Moldova was a peace-loving state. At the same time, Vadim Krasnoselsky called for a broader interpretation of the concept of peace.
“Peace is not only when guns do not shoot, but also when there are no blockade restrictions, when the rights of Pridnestrovians are not violated, when the obligations assumed are fulfilled,” he stressed.
The PMR President thanked Russia for the peacekeeping efforts in the region and invited Andrey Rudenko to visit Pridnestrovie in July when the 30th anniversary of the peacekeeping operation will be celebrated.
“Peace is the basis. There is nothing without peace, Vadim Krasnoselsky summed up. - We remain committed to peace, Pridnestrovie is not a territory of aggression, it has never been and never will be. All such speculations that exist around us have no basis," the head of the Pridnestrovian state added.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation said that during his visit he has also met with the Russian peacekeeping contingent representatives in Bendery.
“I saw what part this operation plays in maintaining peace and security on both banks of the Dniester. This is especially important on our borrowed time. You can see for yourself the processes that are taking place both around Russia and in Moscow's relations with the West,” Andrey Rudenko said.
