Oleg Serebrian: Chisinau supports a peaceful resolution of the Transnistrian conflict
Chisinau has reaffirmed its commitment to peacefully resolving the Transnistrian conflict, as stated by Oleg Serebrian, the Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, in an interview with Moldova 1 TV. This statement follows a meeting on November 19, where Tiraspol presented a declaration outlining commitments to avoid escalation and maintain peaceful methods of conflict resolution.
According to Serebrian, Chisinau supports the proposed principles but believes that the declaration needs to include more concrete elements.
"This statement aims to reflect what Tiraspol proposed in May at the previous 1+1 meeting regarding the principles of negotiations, emphasizing a peaceful settlement. Chisinau has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution, which should be the cornerstone of addressing the conflict. However, the declaration must also include specific details," Serebrian emphasized.
The head of the Bureau for Reintegration pointed out that although the statement has symbolic significance, it serves to strengthen the confidence of citizens and the international community in Chisinau and Tiraspol's determination to resolve the conflict peacefully.
"We will review the second version of the text soon. We have submitted a counter-proposal regarding this statement, which won’t change much. It will reaffirm that the parties involved in the negotiation process regard dialogue as the means to resolve the conflict. While unanimity has not yet been achieved, we remain open to dialogue. It’s essential to assure both citizens on either side of the Nistru and our international partners that the resolution will be peaceful," he added.
We remind you that on November 19, a meeting of the political representatives from Chisinau and Tiraspol took place at the OSCE Mission headquarters in Bender. During this meeting, Oleg Serebrian discussed several issues with the representative of the separatist regime from Tiraspol, Vitali Ignatiev. Topics included impediments to schools teaching in the Romanian language, illegal taxes imposed on farmers in the Dubăsari district, restrictions on free movement, the need to release Moldovan citizens unlawfully detained on the left bank of the Nistru, and customs taxes "imposed" by Tiraspol.
The relationship between Chisinau and Tiraspol has been marked by stagnation and ongoing tensions over the past few decades, with occasional attempts to resume negotiations aimed at solving the Transnistrian conflict. Despite the international framework established by the 5+2 negotiation format, tangible progress has been minimal, and political dialogue has been largely absent in recent times.
