The 23rd meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council held in Hamburg on December 8 and 9 adopted a Declaration on the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 format. In the document, the OSCE member states reiterate the necessity of obtaining a compressive, peaceful and sustainable solution to the Transnistrian conflict, based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within the internationally recognized borders and a special status for the Transnistrian region, which would fully guarantee the political, economic and social rights of the population, IPN reports.

In a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration says the negotiations on the text of the ministerial Declaration were moderated by the German OSCE Chairmanship, with the participation of the delegations of Russia, Ukraine, the U.S., the European Union and Moldova, which was represented by Deputy Prime Minister Gheorghe Balan.

The Declaration underlines the necessity of making concrete progress in all the three baskets of the negotiation agenda – socioeconomic matters, law and humanitarian aspects and human rights, and the comprehensive settlement, including institutional, political and security aspects. It welcomed the resumption of the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 format this year by holding a substantial round in Berlin.

The Declaration calls on the sides to take part in the talks, under the auspices of the Austrian OSCE Chairmanship (2017), in the existent negotiation formats and in accordance with the internationally acceptable parameters. It welcomes the common and active approach of the mediators and observers and encourages continuing the coordination of efforts and use of the collective potential by advancing the Transnistrian settlement talks.