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Chisinau and Tiraspol plan joint statement on peaceful resolution

Chisinau and Tiraspol could sign a joint statement to establish the principles of negotiations and reaffirm both parties' commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The text of the statement proposed by Tiraspol has not yet been agreed to by Chisinau, which has submitted its own proposals, firmly committing to the peaceful resolution of the dispute.

Although symbolic, this statement on the resolution must still include concrete elements, as stated by Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, Oleg Serebrian.

"We will review the second version of the text because we have submitted a counter-proposal to this statement, which will not change much, except to reaffirm that the parties involved in the negotiation process view dialogue as the tool that will lead to the resolution of the conflict."

Since a statement is essentially declarative, but also meant to reassure citizens on both banks of the Dniester, as well as our external partners, that both Chisinau and Tiraspol have decided to continue along the path of dialogue.

On November 19, a meeting between the political representatives of Chisinau and Tiraspol was held at the OSCE Mission headquarters in Bender.

The obstacles to the operation of Romanian-language schools, the illegal taxes imposed on farmers in the Dubasari district, restrictions on freedom of movement, the need to release Moldovan citizens illegally detained on the left bank of the Dniester, and customs duties 'imposed' on Tiraspol were among the topics discussed by Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, Oleg Serebrian, with Vitali Ignatiev, the representative of the separatist regime in Tiraspol.

It is worth mentioning that relations between Chisinau and Tiraspol have been characterised by stagnation and constant tensions over the past decades, with periodic attempts to resume negotiations aimed at resolving the Transnistrian conflict.

Despite the international framework established by the 5+2 negotiation format, real progress has been limited, and political dialogue has been absent in recent years.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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