U.S. Dept of State official salutes measures taken to resume 5+2 talks

The United States supports Moldova’s efforts to solve the Transnistrian conflict, stated David Merkel, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, during a meeting with Moldovan Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanai. The American official, who is on a working visit to Moldova, has saluted the measures undertaken for resuming the negotiations in the five-plus-two format, Info-Prim Neo reports, citing the Government’s press unit. Zinaida Greceanai remarked that the task forces created by the Government on the initiative of the President for carrying out the Chisinau-Tiraspol confidence-building measures are ready to proceed to negotiations. According to the premier, following the activity of these task forces, a wide range of concrete projects in such areas as infrastructure development, road construction, security and disarmament, social and humanitarian areas are to be proposed. Zinaida Greceanai expressed her gratitude to the U.S. Government for the support offered in implementing joint projects in various fields, notably as part of the Millennium Challenge Program. David Merkel in turn saluted the development of the Moldo-American dialogue on principles of sincerity and transparency, observing the progress made in the bilateral relations. The American official has pointed out that Moldova’s participation in the Millennium Challenge Program represents one of Moldova’s opportunities to advance on the path of economic and democratic reforms, urging further concrete projects as part of the Program. The collocutors also addressed issues related to regulating migration processes. In this connection, the premier stated the Moldovan Government has undertaken solid measures to combat trafficking in human beings, illegal migration, etc. [Info-Prim Neo’s note: 5+2 format means the settlement negotiations are conveyed by Moldova, the Transnistrian area, Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE plus the USA and the EU as observers.]