European Commission Vice President: EU remains fully committed to resuming talks in 5+2 format

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, Vice President of the European Commission, said the EU remains fully committed to resuming the talks in the 5+2 format without preconditions or delay, by observing the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova. The statement was made after Prime Minister Vlad Filat handed over an aide memoire on increasing the role of the EU in the Transnistrian conflict settlement process to the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Štefan Füle in a meeting on May 15, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a communique from the Moldovan Foreign Ministry. “I welcome the aide memoire rendered by the Government of Moldova, by which it confirms its readiness to further engage in the settlement process together with all its partners so as to identify a viable and sustainable solution to the Transnistrian conflict, including with the help of the EU,” Catherine Ashton said. The Vice President of the European Commission also said that the proposal will be examined with due attention at the consultations in the 5+2 format with the partners. She called on all the parties to support Moldova in its efforts to implement the measures aimed at building confidence between the banks of the Nistru. The aide memoire presents the Moldovan Government's stance on the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict and describes the steps that will be taken to achieve results in the negotiation process.