The Special Representative of the Austrian OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transnistrian Settlement Process, Wolf Dietrich Heim, said the spirit of the discussions held during his three-day visit to Chisinau, Tiraspol and Bender is constructive. In a news conference, the official said the political will stated in the meetings shows that the sides are ready to take measures to identify solutions to the eight agreed priorities, IPN reports.

Ambassador Heim said that in the meetings there was felt a new commitment as regards the different levels of negotiation on the eight key matters. “We appreciate the expressed wish and encourage the sides to follow it further. We see there are technical and administrative solutions that are close to completion and this would be a step that would stimulate the reunification process,” stated Wolf Dietrich Heim.

The OSCE Representative for the Transnistrian Settlement Process said the meetings of the inter-sector working groups were also productive. The meeting with the two key negotiators of Chisinau and Tiraspol was positive too. If the same constructive spirit persists, concrete solutions to particular issues could be identified soon.

Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Michael Scanlan told the same news conference that the activities carried out this year produced results in reaching agreements on the eight main points. He voiced hope that the leaders of the two sides will soon give clear instructions to the key negotiators so that concrete results are achieved.

The official noted that they also had a meeting with the resident ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine (mediators) and of the EU and the U.S. (observers) as part of the coordinated efforts of the international partners in the “5+2” format talks.