Viktor Yanukovych and Dmitry Medvedev to sign new statement on Transnistrian conflict

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych intend to sign a new joint statement on the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On April 14, Russian Ambassador in Chisinau Valery Kuzmin said he hopes this statement will promote the negotiation process, Info-Prim Neo reports. The statement will be signed at the meeting of the interstate Russian-Ukrainian commission that will take place in mid-May, when Dmitry Medvedev will pay his first official visit to Kiev. Valery Kuzmin said the two states, which take part in the talks in the 5+2 format, might aim at resolving the Transnistrian dispute peacefully, by preserving the territorial integrity of Moldova. “Transnistria is not recognized, but we cannot deny its existence. It is five years since the signing of the previous statement by the then Russian and Ukrainian Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yushchenko. No talks took place in the interim. I hope a new statement will encourage this process,” the Ambassador said.