Chisinau is ready to resume stalled talks on the resolution of the Transdnestr conflict, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Osipov said Wednesday.
The talks on the future of Moldova's breakaway region of Transdnestr in the "five-plus-two" format, involving Russia, Ukraine, OSCE, Moldova, Transdnestr, with the United States and the EU as observers, have been frozen since February 2006.
"Using this [the OSCE summit] opportunity, we would like to reiterate our call for the resumption of official talks in the "5+2" format to work out a comprehensive solution of the Transdnestr conflict on the basis of Moldova's sovereignty and integrity," Osipov said at a Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
"We are open [to discussion] and ask our partners to help us convince the Transdnestrian leadership to come to the negotiation table," he said.
The Russian-speaking province of Transdnestr has maintained de facto independence from Moldova since a brief war in 1992, which erupted from a buildup of tensions following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Tiraspol insists on independence, and even integration with Russia, while Chisinau says it is willing only to give Transdnestr autonomy within Moldova.
Transdnestr also insists it should be an integral part of any talks or agreements on the settlement issue.
ASTANA, December 1 (RIA Novosti)
