Resuming the meetings of the working groups and political negotiators in the 1+1 format is the first step that must be now taken in the Transnistrian settlement process, Special Representative of the German OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transnistrian Settlement Process Cord Meier-Klodt said, noting he was assured by the Moldovan and Transnistrian authorities that a meeting in the 1+1 format will take place in the near future, IPN reports.

“The authorities of Chisinau and Tiraspol expressed their immediate availability to meet. Both of the sides said they do not want to lose time. There is now no concrete timeline, but I think that this should happen next week and I hope that it will be so,” Cord Meier-Klodt said in a visit end up news conference.

The official stated that one of the objectives of his first visit to Moldova was to shape the progress in the Transnistrian settlement process as one of the priorities of the German OSCE Chairmanship. Another goal was to present a roadmap to the sides and to agree how this can be implemented so as to make progress. “I was satisfied with what I heard in Chisinau and Tiraspol. I heard firm devotion on the part of the Government of Moldova and the administration of Tiraspol concerning the advancing and involvement in this process,” he said.

According to the OSCE representative, the authorities showed readiness to strengthen the capacities of the Reintegration Office and to intensify its work. “The devotion of the Moldovan authorities included the clear affirmation to find a solution that will come with a special status for Transnistria within the Republic of Moldova. Also, in Transnistria I heard about the side’s readiness to immediately reopen the negotiation process, without any precondition and as swiftly as possible,” said the ambassador.

Cord Meier-Klodt has been in Moldova on a visit starting with February 15. During his visit, the diplomat met with representatives of the Moldovan authorities and the Transnistrian administration.