MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/. The pause in the work of Permanent Council on Political Issues in the framework of Transdniestrian settlement has been too long, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador at Large Sergey Gubarev told TASS on Tuesday.
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"Pause in the negotiations process in the ‘5+2’ format, where Moldova and Transdniestria are conflicting parties, Russia and Ukraine - guarantor countries and mediators, OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] - mediator, and EU and US - observers, has been unacceptably long," Gubarev, who also serves as Russia’s envoy to the Transdniestrian talks. "Over the last year, only two meetings took place instead of five-six coordinated in the regulations. Over the nine months of 2015, no official meetings were held," he noted.
According to the diplomat, the reason for that is "the deficit of positive shifts" in relations between Chisinau and Tiraspol. "Resumed contacts of political representatives of the sides for resemble the conversation between the deaf people, unfortunately. No decisions are made on principally important issues of further development of relations between the two banks of the Dniester River," he said.
"Of course, international mediators should also play their part in changing the situation," Gubarev added. "We should not forget that the negotiations platform in the format ‘5+2’ exists, and it was formed precisely for the sides to express their views of the situation and their complaints in the presence of mediators and observers. Shuttle diplomacy is a good thing, of course, and we are actively working with the sides. However, regular work of the Permanent Council creates unique opportunities for solving the existing issues," the diplomat explained.