The resumption of the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 and 1+1 formats was discussed in a working meeting of Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Gheorghe Balan and Ambassador Michael Scanlan, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, IPN reports.

According to the Reintegration Office, the officials discussed the current state and the prospects of the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks and the steps taken to make progress within the dialogue platforms so as to identify positive solutions to the most pressing problems faced by the people from both sides of the Nistru River.

The interlocutors underlined the importance of efficiently using all the mechanisms available in the settlement process, aimed at stimulating the negotiations and at achieving concrete results, including by intensifying the work of the sector working groups.

Gheorghe Balan also had a meeting with Ukraine’s Ambassador to Moldova Ivan Gnatyshin. The diplomat assured that Ukraine, as a mediator in the negotiations, will actively contribute to identifying a viable solution to the Transnistrian conflict, which will respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova. In this connection, the Deputy Prime Minister was informed about the appointment of Valery Jovtenco as the new special representative of Ukraine for the Transnistrian settlement process.

The officials pleaded for developing the Moldovan-Ukrainian dialogue at different levels and for solving the problems from the bilateral agenda in the immediate future.