The EU Ambassador to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola said the European Enion pleads for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova by offering a special status to the Transnistrian region. “It is very important, first of all, to adopt a so-called constructive approach,” the diplomat said in an interview for Radio Free Europe, quoted by IPN.

“Secondly, we must show by this cooperation between both sides that it is a win-win relationship, that both of the sides will only gain and will be able to develop, modernize and achieve success, if they cooperate and identity this common interest,” stated Pirkka Tapiola.

Speaking about the 5+2 format of the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks, the ambassador said this is the mechanism that we have and that involves all the players. “We have here the neighbors of the Republic of Moldova – the European Union and Ukraine, we have one of the big regional players, which is the Russian Federation, we have our so-called transatlantic partner - the global player, which is the United States of America and the sides – Chisinau and Tiraspol,” said the Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova.

Pirkka Tapiola noted the expectations were often that the geopolitical players will be those that will identify a solution. But to have that really sustainable solution, namely the sides should find it based on common interests. The sides, under the aegis of the OSCE, must work with the aim of identifying and reaching this solution, which is sustainable and which functions.

The Special Representative of the German OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transnistrian Settlement Process Cord Meier-Klodt, while in Moldova on a visit recently, said the time is now opportune for resuming the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 and 1+1 formats. The first round of talks between the key negotiators of Chisinau and Tiraspol could take place next week.