Tiraspol, 7 April. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The resumption of official negotiations on the Pridnestrovian settlement is our immediate task, said Russia's ambassador at large, Sergey Gubarev, during an online news conference.
On 5−6 April Moldova and Pridnestrovie was visited by representatives of mediators and observers in the negotiation process on the Pridnestrovian settlement in the 5+2 format. The last round of negotiations in this format (with the involvement of Moldova and Pridnestrovie as conflict sides, Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE as mediators, the European Union and the US as observers) took place in 2014.
«In 2006 the negotiations were interrupted at the initiative of Kishinev," said the diplomat. «This pause had continued up to the summer of 2011 when it was decided to resume the negotiations.»
However, the diplomat noted, the last official meeting within the negotiation process took place in the summer of 2014. «This delay was due to Kishinev which brought nearly 200 criminal cases against Pridnestrovian officials," he explained. «It is not the most productive way of negotiating and trying to agree with your partners.»
«Of course, the resumption of official negotiations is our immediate task, this is what should be done to solve current issues… We'll do our best to recommence the negotiations," noted Gubarev.
According to him, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Cord Meier-Klodt is very optimistic and believes that an official round of the 5+2 talks may well take place before the end of May.
«I am not so optimistic because I know the whole depth and complexity of upcoming problems. I'd like to believe that this meeting will take place at least this year," underscored Gubarev.
Sergey Gubarev also said that the key to the status of Pridnestrovie «is not in Moscow, Brussels or Vienna, it is in Kishinev and Tiraspol. This status will be determined by citizens.»
