European delegation headed by Zbigniew Rau, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, arrived in Pridnestrovie. This country presides this year in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, uniting 57 states. This is the first visit of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. He was accompanied by Special Representative Thomas Mayr-Harting, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Claus Neukirch, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Moldova Tomasz Kobzdej and other officials. The European diplomats were received by the PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky. The meeting was organized in Bendery in the conference hall of the "Old Bastion" restaurant complex. The Pridnestrovian side in addition to the PMR President was represented by the Head of the Presidential Administration of the PMR Sergey Belous, the PMR Minister of Foreign Affairs Vitaly Ignatiev and his deputy Alexander Stetsyuk, Vice Speaker of the Pridnestrovian Parliament Galina Antyufeyeva.
The main goal of the meeting was to work together to find a way out of the deadlock associated with the long-term degradation of the negotiation process. The reason for this state of affairs is Moldova's refusal to implement the signed agreements. The most serious problem is the use by Chisinau of various forms of pressure on Pridnestrovie and the introduction of restrictions that violate the rights and interests of the citizens of the republic. The plans include discussion of the further work of the “5+2” format, search for tools to give impetus to the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian dialogue stagnation. New caused by changed external circumstances issues have come to the fore in addition to the already familiar issues that have been relevant for years, and some even decades.
Welcoming the guests, Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that the visit of diplomats is important for Pridnestrovie. He recalled that the "Permanent Conference ..." format has been inactive for the third year. Despite the desire of the Head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry Ann Linde who led the OSCE last year, the “5+2” format did not meet in 2021. According to Vadim Krasnoselsky, the situation that has developed in Ukraine, neighboring Pridnestrovie, does not add optimism, reducing the likelihood of a meeting between the participants in the negotiation process. Nevertheless, Pridnestrovie aims to continue the dialogue and will take all possible measures to resume it, the PMR President emphasized. He singled out two fundamental aspects in doing so. First, the parties are obliged to fulfill the agreements – already existing and those that they seek to achieve. Secondly, Moldova must abandon the practice of pressure on Pridnestrovie – political, economic and any other pressure. Vadim Krasnoselsky urged not to forget that the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is an equal participant in the negotiation process. The PMR President noted that ignoring the aspects he outlined would lead to the fact that the meetings would be nothing more than a ritual character and would not give the expected practical result.
Zbigniew Rau in his protocol and welcoming speech expressed gratitude for the organization of the meeting and for the clearly formulated agenda. The diplomat said nice things about the management of the current crisis situation by the Pridnestrovian leadership, and noted that he welcomes the message voiced by Vadim Krasnoselsky that Pridnestrovie has no plans of an aggressive nature towards Ukraine. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office expressed his opinion that there is no hope for a gathering of participants in the “5+2” format in the near future. He noted at the same time the dialogue commitment.
The meeting continued without mass-media participation.
