OSCE Special Envoy welcomes continuation of '5+2' talks on Transdniestria, urges parties to restart official negotiations

VIENNA, 28 September 2010 - The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for Protracted Conflicts, Ambassador Bolat Nurgaliyev, welcomed today the continuation of the "5+2" process for the settlement of the Transdniestria conflict, and called for the renewal of official negotiations.

The 5+2 - which includes the sides (the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria) and the mediators and observers (Russian Federation, Ukraine, United States, European Union and OSCE) - concluded a two-day informal meeting at the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna today.

"The 5+2 is focusing on two areas - freedom of movement and systems of guarantees for the negotiating process," Ambassador Nurgaliyev said. "We made substantial progress at this meeting. Progress in both areas helps to improve the lives of ordinary people on both banks of the River Dniestr/Nistru and build confidence between the Sides, which is necessary for a comprehensive political solution to the conflict.

"This was the fourth 5+2 meeting this year. Over the course of this year, the process has become more regular, more intensive and more productive, leading to optimism that we may meet the goal the 5+2 set at its first meeting this year: the resumption of official negotiations."

He added: "Before this meeting, we visited the region and met with the heads of the Joint Experts Working Groups on both sides. At the 5+2 meeting today and yesterday, we discussed intensively mechanisms for rapidly improving the effectiveness of these groups."

Participants in the talks agreed that current political events and elections in both Moldova and Transdniestria should not lead to a pause in the negotiating efforts. Ambassador Nurgaliyev noted that agreement had been reached on next steps, including the next round of talks, which will take place in mid-November.