Both Chisinau and Tiraspol expressed readiness to take part in a new round of Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 format that have been blocked for almost a year and a half. The sides consider the reopening of the bridge between the villages Gura Bicului and Bicioc is a precondition for resuming the talks by the end of this month, but the proposal to hold a meeting is to be submitted by the Austrian OSCE Chairmanship, IPN reports.

After the signing of the draft protocol decision on the opening of the bridge between Gura Bicului and Bicioc, the chief negotiator of Chisinau Gheorghe Balan said today’s decision comes to support the efforts made to organize a new round of talks in the 5+2 format. “The fact that we agreed to reopen the bridge creates real preconditions for the sides to meet in this format of the talks by the end of this month,” stated the Deputy Prime Minister.

The chief negotiator of Tiraspol Vitaly Ignatiev said the Transnistrian side’s position on the 5+2 format remains unchanged – open and understood. “We consider that all the international partners involved in his format should respect the working principles and procedures of this format. We saw no impediment to ensuring rhythmic work in the 5+2 format in the recent past. We all know that the last meeting took place on June 3, 2016 and no meetings have been held since then. We consider this is diminution of the pace and something counterproductive as this important working platform should be used,” he stated, noting that sometimes an impulse from outside is needed to go on.