The OSCE Special Representative for the Transnistrian Settlement Process Franco Frattini said the next round of talks in the 5+2 format could take place this July or this September. A visit in the 3+2 format is likely to be paid in June, but this will depend on the existence of a government in Chisinau, IPN reports, with reference to a press release of the so-called presidential institution of Transnistria.

In a meeting with the Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnoselski held in Tiraspol on May 11, Franco Frattini said the stagnation of the negation process is counterproductive and the loss of the impetus witnesses the last two years is unacceptable. He assured the OSCE will continue to support the sides in their wish to continue the dialogue.

According to Vadim Krasnoselski, the intensity of discussions during the past five months decreased considerably and is close to zero and this is due to the political process taking place in Moldova. “It is dangerous to stop the negotiation process. The years 2017 and 2018 showed good dynamics and concrete agreements were reached in the period. My opinion is that the negotiation process should not be hostage to the political situation in Moldova. Regardless of the political processes that take place there, the expert-level negotiations, the interaction of specialists at technical level should be continued,” he stated, noting the sides should put into practice the existing agreements and should take steps to come to new arrangements.

The 5 +2 format talks include representatives of the sides and mediators and observers to the Transnistrian settlement process: Moldova, the Transnistrian region, the OSCE, Russia, Ukraine, the U.S. and the EU.