U.S. and EU may become mediators in Transnistrian conflict settlement talks

The United States and the European Union might obtain the status of mediator in the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks, the EU Special Representative for Moldova Kalman Mizsei said in a news conference, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. “The initiative was put forward by the official Chisinau's representative Victor Osipov during the last informal negotiations in the 5+2 format. Given that the EU is one of the main partners of Moldova, we consider this request is justified,” Kalman Mizsei said. The subject may be discussed at the OSCE Summit in Astana in December. Kalman Mizsei also said the EU welcomes the reintroduction of the Chisinau-Odessa passenger train via Tiraspol and hopes the freight traffic through Transnistria will be also resumed and the telephone communication between the two banks of the Nistru River will be restored. The European official said results have been achieved the last year in resuming the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks and in building confidence between the two banks. According to him, these efforts must be continued after the elections. Currently, the OSCE, Russia and Ukraine act as mediators in the talks, while the U.S. and the EU as observers.