You're reading: Lavrov: Russia backs Moldova’s territorial integrity

Russia supports Moldova's territorial integrity, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov referring to the breakaway region of Transdniestria in eastern Moldova.

"It is most important not to lose all those positive achievements that have been made over the years of contacts between the parties and help develop a solution that would determine Transdniestria’s special guaranteed status within the framework of Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Moldovan Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca.

Moscow expects that the negotiating process could be unblocked through joint efforts and that a search for compromises on a comprehensive and viable settlement of the problem of Transdniestria will be continued, he said.

"We confirmed our interest in seeking to resume the work of the 5+2 format together with Ukraine as another guarantor, the observer parties, I mean the United States and the European Union, and also the OSCE," Lavrov said.

All the participants in this format of talks should actively promote confidence building measures and help the parties sit at the negotiating table and find a common solution, he said.

Leanca said is was "very important to hold consultations and find mutually acceptable solutions within their framework."

One of the stumbling blocks on the path toward settling the problem is movement of people and goods between Moldova and the unrecognized Transdniestrian republic, he said.

"We proceed from the assumption that such issues can be resolved quite quickly if there is will in Chisinau and Tiraspol (the capital city of Transdniestria)," Leanca said.

"Another goal is the establishment of the essential internal and external preconditions for beginning negotiations on Transdniestria’s status within the framework of the Republic of Moldova," he said.