In the OSCE Annual Security Review Conference, Moldova reiterated the necessity of completing the pullout of the Russian troops and munitions from the Transnistrian region, in accordance with the commitments made at the Istanbul OSCE Summit of 1999. Moldova’s position was stated by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Popov, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a communiqué, the Foreign Ministry says that special attention in the conference was devoted to the resolution of the Transnistrian dispute. It was stressed the importance of identifying a viable solution to the conflict by observing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova, unconditionally resuming the formal talks in the 5+2 format, and promoting the measures aimed at building confidence between the two banks of the Nistru River. In his speech, Andrei Popov said that the time is now opportune for transforming the current peacekeeping operation in the Security Zone into a multinational, civilly-mandated mission that will aim to bring the sides closer, not to separate them. The deputy minister also presented the Moldovan authorities’ stance on the latest developments and efforts aimed at resolving the crisis concerning the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. Andrei Popov had a number of bilateral meetings with heads of delegations attending the conference, including U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russell, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Celeste Wallander, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Giedrius Cekuolis, Permanent State Secretary at the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry Kestutis Jankauskas, director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center Adam Kobieracki, and GUAM Secretary General Valeri Chechelashvili.