The Russian Federation will continue to encourage the identification of a just solution to the Transnistrian conflict and the reaching of an agreement concerning a special, safe and guaranteed status for Transnistria by observing the sovereignty and ensuring the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, the President of Russian Vladimir Putin stated in a ceremony to accredit 23 ambassadors, including Moldova’s Ambassador in Moscow Vladimir Golovatiuc, IPN reports.

Vladimir Putin said the approach adopted by the Kremlin in the interaction with the Republic of Moldova starts from the traditions of friendship and the common spiritual values that connect the two nations. He noted that this year there will be celebrated the 20th anniversary of the bilateral Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

The Transnistrian conflict settlement talks are held in the 5+2 format: representatives of the mediators (Russia, Ukraine, OSCE), of the observers (U.S. and the EU) and the parties (Chisinau and Tiraspol). In 2011, the discussions were resumed after a hiatus of six years.