You're reading: Moldova leaders, PACE chief discuss Transdniestria conflict

Chisinau - Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti has assured the president of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), Jean-Claude Mignon, that Moldova is willing to discuss any proposal for a negotiated resolution of its conflict with its breakaway Transdniestria region.

Mignon, for his part, said PACE is willing to help Moldova settle the Transdniestrian conflict and give the country various other kinds of support, the Moldovan president’s office told Interfax in reporting a meeting between Timofti and Mignon.

Mignon expressed support for the Five Plus Two format for seeking a solution to the Transdniestrian conflict, an arrangement where Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are mediators, and the European Union and United States observers, with Moldova and Transdniestria being the direct negotiators.

At a meeting with Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Mignon said PACE is closely following reforms in Moldova. Filat and Mignon discussed further judiciary and other reforms to bring the country closer to joining the European Union.

Moldova’s deputy prime minister for reintegration, Eugen Carpov, said during a meeting with Mignon that Moldova had put before Transdniestria a proposal for a “single economic space,” meaning the two sides would play by the same rules.

“Today the geopolitical situation prevents us from taking revolutionary steps in the Transdniestrian conflict settlement process, and so we will continue our policy of ‘minor moves’ in specific fields that are aimed at solving problems for the population on both sides of the Dniester,” Carpov said.

Mignon expressed support for Moldovan efforts to restore its sovereignty over Transdniestria and said it is one of his priorities to seek solutions to chronic conflicts in Europe.

He invited Moldovan and Transdniestrian lawmakers to pay a joint visit to Strasbourg in order to start an inter-parliamentary dialogue.