Vienna to host informal meeting in 5+2 format in mid-February

The first informal meeting in the 5+2 format this year will be held in Vienna. In the meeting, Moldova will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Eugen Carpov. “We hope that these negotiations will be the last in unofficial format and the official talks will be resumed this year,” OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Lithuania Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis told a news conference in Chisinau. The official is in Moldova on a working visit. The minister said that he came to Chisinau because one of the priorities of the Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship is to solve the protracted conflicts. “The real situation is not at all positive and bright. However, I praise my counterpart for the efforts made to resolve a number of problems. Our role as politicians is to remove the barriers hindering the communication between the banks of the Nistru,” said Audronius Azubalis. Moldova’s Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca said that Moldova welcomes the OSCE’s readiness to play an important part in promoting the measures aimed at building confidence between the banks of the Nistru River. “We discussed methods of implementing important political initiatives that were put forward last year. They are designed to encourage the Transnistrian conflict settlement process. The latest signals make us to be optimistic that the official talks in the 5+2 format will be resumed soon,” said Iurie Leanca. On February 9, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office will pay a visit to Tiraspol, where he will meet with Transnistrian officials.