Tiraspol, May 17. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The problems with the 5 + 2 negotiation format functionality did not arise in 2022 but earlier. These are the Head of the Main Foreign Policy Department of the PMR Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dmitry Palamarchuk`s comments to Novosti Pridnestrovya on the statements of the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Andrey Rudenko that negotiations in this format had reached an impasse.
“We have to consider the fact that the negotiation process within the framework of the permanent meeting on political issues has been in stasis since the end of 2019,” the Pridnestrovian diplomat noted.
Dmitry Palamarchuk stated: that if in 2022, the failures in this negotiation platform work can be explained by the complicated regional geopolitical context, then the stagnation of negotiations in the previous period has different reasons.
“Both in 2020 and 2021, the problems with the activities of this format, in our opinion, were purely subjective and were simply related to the unwillingness of the Moldovan side for an honest, open dialogue, as well as the fact that certain guardians from among Moldova’s international partners showed indulgence towards this Chisinau`s destructive position," the Head of the Main Foreign Policy Department of the Pridnestrovian Foreign Ministry stressed.
Temporary Pause or Final Exit?
Nevertheless, according to Dmitry Palamarchuk, it is premature to completely write off the 5 + 2 negotiation format. In the future, this negotiation platform may work and bring some benefits again, as "an open, competitive negotiation process with international participation, in which the parties can openly submit their positions and approaches."
At the same time, the Pridnestrovian diplomat states: that the positions of the Republic of Moldova on a wide range of issues, such as the import of medicines to the PMR, the issuance of an environmental authorization for the MMP, have recently been deeply politicized.
“This can be seen in particular from delaying of Pridnestrovian medicines, which in any case the Moldovan side is about to release, from the story that took place with blanks for license plates, that they were held for six months only for the Moldovan court to recognize the illegality of their exemption < …> The absurdity of these approaches of the Moldovan side - it could be seen in the framework of an honest, open competitive process. While international partners would probably have the opportunity to somehow change this situation,” the Head of the Main Foreign Policy Department of the PMR Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Constructive Dialogue on Any Platform
According to Dmitry Palamarchuk, the Pridnestrovian side proceeds on the assumption that since the 5 + 2 format is temporarily not working, it is necessary to conduct a dialogue on other available platforms. These are meetings of representatives on political issues, and interactions at the level of expert working groups. For its part, Pridnestrovie is ready to conduct a constructive dialogue at any negotiation platform, Dmitry Palamarchuk noted. The question is whether the Moldovan side has the political commitment for this.
“Pridnestrovie remains a responsible participant in the negotiation process, fulfilling the existing agreements, and we are ready to negotiate and implement agreements exactly to the extent and degree that the Moldovan side is ready for. And I think that it is precisely through the implementation of the agreements, through the improvement of the conditions of the population, through obtaining public support for the ongoing dialogue, that it is possible to break the deadlock,” the diplomat stated.
