The resumption of the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 format must be resumed, but the conditions imposed by Russia and the Transnistrian side should not be accepted, considers the executive director of the Feign Policy Association (APE) Victor Chirila. In an APE press club meeting held at IPN, the expert spoke about the red lines of the Transnistrian settlement process in the context of the announced resumption of the 5+2 format talks.

Victor Chirila said that both Chisinau and the other participants in the discussions must take into account the fact that Russia’s aggressive policy undermined a lot its status of imperial mediator at the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks. Moreover, the U.S. and the EU should ask to become mediators, not only observers at the negotiations.

According to Victor Chirila, it is yet evident that the U.S. no longer has a major interest in the Transnistrian settlement process. Therefore, at least the European Union should demand the status of mediator given its economic interests in the area now that the free trade area with Moldova extended to cover Transnistria too.

The APE executive director said it is very important for all the partners involved in the talks to insist that any agreement should be reached based on mutual concessions. A constructive dialogue can help find solutions to the conflict, while the acceptance of concessions by Chisinau only would be a fatal mistake.

However, Victor Chirila considers that no rapid solutions to the Transnistrian conflict can be identified given the difficult regional situation and the fact that the government in Moldova is challenged by the largest part of the population. A political struggle between the Transnistrian leader Yevgheny Shevchuk and businessmen of the Sheriff holding takes place in Tiraspol and this also hampers the discussions. Furthermore, despite all the sanctions, the Russian Federation continues to pursue an aggressive policy in the region.

Victor Chirila added that as long as there is no clarity in Chisinau as to the subsequent steps – insistence on the country’s reunification or peaceful separation of the region from the rest of the country – a viable solution will not be identified.

Meanwhile, the authorities announced that the talks in the 5+2 format will be resumed in Berlin on June 2, after a pause of two years.