Although the dynamics of the talks regarding the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict has slowed down recently, the authorities in Chisinau want to cooperate with those in Tiraspol and undertake a series of actions by the end of 2015 so that the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) comes into effect in the Transnistrian region as well, IPN reports.

“It's obvious that when you plan five rounds of negotiations in the 5+2 format and three of them are delayed because of various reasons invented by the Transnistrian side and supported by another participant in the talks, such a dynamic cannot allow the negotiations to progress and the conflict to be settled. But we don't have a better format”, said outgoing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Iulian Groza, during the final meeting of the National Convention for European Integration on Monday, December 15.

The outgoing official expressed his hope that the cooling of relations is related only to the electoral campaign. “We hope that shortly after the new government is appointed, contacts will be restored and we'll have talks regarding the three baskets of topics previously agreed, including the political settlement of the conflict, and we're confident we will succeed”, said Iulian Groza.

“Before the end of the year, together with the colleagues in Tiraspol, we must identify the minimum criteria for the DCFTA to come into effect in the Transnistrian region as well, beginning on January 1, 2016”, added the acting Deputy Minister.

The last round of talks in the 5+2 format was scheduled for September 2014 in Vienna, but was delayed on Tiraspol's request. The Bureau for Reintegration announced then that separate consultations with mediators and observers in Chisinau and Tiraspol could be held instead of the postponed negotiations.