We must see at what price official talks were resumed, expert

“We must see at what price the formal Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the “5+2” format were resumed,” program director at the Foreign Policy Association Radu Vrabie has told Info-Prim Neo when asked to pronounce on the decision taken in the consultations in Moscow. The expert considers it is too early to make forecasts for the talks. “There is yet no document saying on what condition the talks in the “5+2” format will be reopened. We now can only analyze the regional and internal context. So-called presidential elections will take place in the Transnistrian region after September and then parliamentary elections and presidential elections will be held in Russia. I think no real progress will be made during at last half a year,” said Radu Vrabie. He expressed his skepticism about the possibility of restoring Moldova’s legal borders by preserving its integrity and sovereignty as there were precedents when Tiraspol did not keep the promises made. Radu Vrabie also said that the formal talks mean the resumption of the political dialogue. “The matters discussed in the consultations until now were technical issues addressed in order not to lose contact. It is very important for Moldova to have clarity at political level – where we go and what should we achieve,” said the expert. According to Radu Vrabie, the Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry and the Office for Reintegration deserve praise for the effort made to resume the official talks and to include the Transnistrian issue in the international agenda. “Moldova showed its interest and sincere will to solve this problem. We must continue to make effort and to strengthen the forces at internal level as the resolution of the Transnistrian dispute necessitates a better involvement of the political players,” said the expert. The decision to renew the official Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the “5+2” format was taken in the informal consultations held in Moscow on September 22.