Astana Summit regarded as opportunity for resuming talks in 5+2 format

The OSCE Summit in Astana is an important opportunity for resuming the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 format. In the meeting, Moldova will be able to present proposals for a possible statement on Moldova, executive director of the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) Victor Chirila said in the sixth meeting of the Association's Press Club, Info-Prim Neo reports. The last statement on Moldova during an OSCE Summit was adopted in 2002 in Portugal. Afterward, the OSCE member states could not agree on the content of a new document. Victor Chirila said the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Transnistria was the main obstacle to adopting such a statement.”We think progress has been made in settling the Transnistrian conflict this year and this progress should be reflected in a new statement on Moldova,” he stated. FPA program director Radu Vrabie said that this year the Moldovan authorities took steps to unlock the settlement process and achieved certain results, including the regular meetings between the political representatives of Chisinau and Tiraspol, the informal consultations in the 5+2 format, the meetings between Filat and Smirnov, the signing of the Border Treaty between Moldova and Romania, the adoption of decisions that facilitate the work of the Transnistrian economic entities by the Government of Moldova. Radu Vrabie said the new statement on Moldova should envision the unconditional and immediate resumption of the official talks in the 5+2 format by respecting the fundamental principles, the transformation of the Russian peacekeeping mission into an internationally mandated mission of civil observers, and the complete pullout of the Russian troops and munitions from Moldova's territory, in accordance with the commitments made by Russia at the Istanbul OSCE Summit of 1999. According to Vrabie, Russia may dispute some of these points, especially the withdrawal of its troops and munitions, but there are preconditions for adopting a statement that will favor Moldova. The OSCE Summit that will take place in Astana on December 1-2 will bring together heads of state and government and foreign ministers from 56 countries. The Press Club of the ForeignPolicy Association is organized wit support from the German foundation Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.