Moldovan parliamentary Chairman Andrian Candu said he hoped negotiations on settling the Transdniestria conflict in the 5+2 format (Moldova, Transdniestria, Russia, Ukraine, and the OSCE plus observers from the United States and the European Union) would be resumed before the end of 2017.
“We are seeking to resume the negotiations and discuss the existing problems so as to achieve at least some results before the end of the year. We also spoke at today’s meeting about the need to submit proposals to the parliament for resolving problems facing the residents of the safety zone on the left and on the right banks of the Dniester River,” Candu told journalists on September 29, following a meeting of the parliamentary platform for settling the Transdniestria conflict.
“These could be social and economic issues, the simplification of the procedure for confirming Moldovan citizenship for residents of Transdniestria,” he said.
The meeting participants also discussed the economic situation in Transdniestria, he said.
“This is really a difficult situation. But it might worsen further if no solution is found regarding Transdniestria’s involvement in the free trade area with the European Union. The privileged trade regime with the EU has been extended until January 1, 2018. As much as 65 percent of Transdniestria’s exports go to the European Union now [according to Transdniestria’s statistics, electricity supplies to Moldova account for one third of this figure]. If we fail to find a solution to this problem with the European Union, the economic situation on the left bank may worsen even further,” Candu said.
The parliament and the government intend to consider the establishment of a special fund promoting the country’s reunification, he said.
“Such a fund should be set up. There are countries and organizations willing to facilitate Moldova’s reunification with their money. This fund could raise European money to develop the infrastructure, repair the roads, and build bridges. All of this could be tangibly helpful to the region’s residents as well,” he said.
The 5+2 negotiations have not been held since the spring of 2014. Participants in the negotiating process held two informal meetings in Germany in 2016, but full-scale negotiations have not been resumed. In early June 2016, participants signed a protocol of seven items in Berlin, the implementation of which was supposed to unblock 5+2 negotiations. However, the protocol has never been implemented, which made it impossible to resume full-scale talks.
