Polish Ambassador in Moldova: Transnistria is not a problem on Moldova’s EU path

The unresolved status of the Transnistrian region is not an obstacle for Moldova’s path to the European Union. This was stated today by the Polish Ambassador to Moldova Tomasz Kobzdei in the Alternative with Iulia Budeci TV program. “Transnistria is not a legal and political issue on your way to the European Union. There are some countries with not fully fixed territorial status that are EU members. One of the EU founding countries did not have clearly fixed borders, as well. So let’s not think about the Moldovan path to the European Union, seeing only challenges. Let’s focus on the opportunities,” the Ambassador urged. Chisinau and Tiraspol as parties to the conflict, Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE as mediators, the European Union and the United States as observers participate in the negotiations on the Transnistrian settlement in the 5+2 Format. With the start of a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine, the negotiation process is actually frozen. In early April 2022, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that the 5+2 negotiating format of the Transnistrian settlement might have to be revised, in view of the conflict between the two participants in the negotiation process, i.e. Russia and Ukraine. According to the head of state, it is still difficult to say exactly how the current war will affect the negotiation process, and the Transnistrian authorities should not allow regional tensions. As Vice Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian stated in June 2022, the war in Ukraine completely blocked the 5+2 negotiation format, and the dialogue with the left bank is limited to the technical agenda. He noted that there are many criticisms of the 5+2 negotiations and the so-called “small steps” policy. However, this format kept the peace in the region and ensured progress on some social issues. On January 14, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu stressed that despite the suspension of the 5+2 Format due to Russia’s war against Ukraine, Chisinau maintains constant communication with representatives of Tiraspol. And it continues to adhere to the desire only for a peaceful conflict settlement. While the negotiation format is frozen, Chisinau and Tiraspol are negotiating directly in the informal 1+1 format to discuss mainly urgent humanitarian and technical issues.