Official talks in 5+2 format will take place Feb. 18-20

The first round of the official Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 format will be held on February 18-20. Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Eugen Carpov has told Info-Prim Neo that all the issues included in the three baskets – social, humanitarian, and political – are of major importance. The first meeting will take place in Lvov, Ukraine. Eugen Carpov said that fist of all they will discuss the free movement of people and goods, including the bridge in Gura Bacului. “If we examine this subject separately, technical solutions can be identified very quickly, by signing proceedings. De facto, the bridge is functional. A number of works will be performed on it, but they are not difficult and not very costly,” he stated. Among other topics for discussion will be the drawing closer of civil society from the two banks of the Nistru, the observance of human rights, and the situation of the eight Moldovan-administered, Latin-script schools in Transnistria. “We will insist on discussing political, institutional and security aspects of the settlement process, which in fact means determining the special legal status of the Transnistrian region as a component part of the Republic of Moldova,” said Eugen Carpov. He also said that the exact agenda will be presented by the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office that is held by Ukraine. The talks in the 5+2 format involve representatives of Chisinau and Tiraspol, with the OSCE, Russia and Ukraine acting as mediators, while the EU and U.S. as observers.