CHISINAU, September 28 /TASS/. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has called on Moldova and the unrecognized Republic of Transnistria to step up negotiations on the conflict’s settlement, Cord Meier-Klodt of Germany, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transnistrian Settlement, said at a meeting with Moldovan Vice-Premier Gheorghe Balan in Chisinau, the press service of the Moldovan government’s Bureau for Re-Integration said on Wednesday.

Chisinau and Tiraspol undertook commitments to settle many disputable issues at a meeting held in Berlin on June 3. They include mutual restrictions in the sphere of communications; free movement of cargoes and citizens; problems with recognition of diplomas and other academic certificates; reciprocal criminal prosecution of bureaucrats who hinder the sides’ rapprochement. A "roadmap" was approved with an aim to resolve those disputable issues. Concrete deadlines were set but the sides have failed to meet that deadline. The only thing they managed to do was to strike environmental deals and exchange the lists of criminal cases.

A few days ago, Vitaly Ignatyev, the foreign minister of the Republic of Transnistria, suggested meeting in the "five plus two" format to actualize the agreements reached in Berlin. "We consider it important to implement the Berlin Protocol," Ignatyev said adding that it was necessary to discuss problems, on which agreements had been reached, and outline temporary parameters for their solution. He pointed to the worsening relations between Chisinau and Tiraspol in the past few months.

Yevgeny Shevchuk, the leader of Transnistria, said earlier that the election campaigns, which had started both in Moldova and Transnistria, were hindering the negotiating process. The presidential elections in Moldova are set for October 30, while the new head of Transnistria will be elected on December 11. It means that no breakthroughs are likely to take place in the talks during Germany’s OSCE presidency.