Romania does not want to directly engage in Transnistria settlement

“Romania is in favor of solving the Transnistrian conflict at talks in the 5+2 format by preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova. We consider that the European Union should play a more active role because its role is determinant,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Cristian Diaconescu said Thursday while on a working visit to Chisinau. “The EU has a special representative dealing with the Transnistrian issue, who coordinates the relevant proposals of the EU member states. “Romania considers that we should not now adopt a position than would be different from the EU’s and this attitude is supported by all the partners taking part in the talks in the 5+2 format,” Diaconescu said at a news conference held jointly with his Moldovan counterpart Andrei Stratan, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The official Chisinau does not intend to seek that the format of the talks is modified, as it was reported last year. At the same time, Moldova will continue to hold consultations with the parties involved in the talks,” Andrei Stratan said. He reiterated the Moldovan authorities’ position that the solution to the Transnistrian dispute should be identified at talks in the 5+2 format. During a televised program earlier, Cristian Diaconescu said that Romania should be directly involved in the Transnistria conflict settlement talks. President Traian Basescu expressed the same opinion. Both the Romanian Foreign Minister and President said that the format of the talks should be changed so that Romania is also included. The foreign minister of the self-proclaimed Transnistrian republic Vladimir Yastrebcheak said Wednesday that Romania could help solve the conflict through other mechanisms, especially through its bilateral relations with Moldova. "Everyone realizes the complications that can appear if Romania takes part in the talks. Undoubtedly, the Romanian Foreign Ministry could step up its efforts at European level,” Vladimir Yastrebcheak said.