Brussels, 23/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs expressed her pleasure on Tuesday 22 November at the joint statement made the previous day by Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat and Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov, in which they pledge to resume negotiations on the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria, after a five-year hiatus. Talks will begin again in Vilnius on 30 November. Highlighting the efforts made by both sides, “which contribute to building confidence”, Ashton believes, according to her spokesperson that this meeting “will positively contribute to the success of the first official '5+2' (Moldova and Transistria, plus the mediators - Russia and Ukraine - and two observers - the European Union and the United States) meeting in Vilnius on the 30 November and 1 December 2011”.
“Transnistria may only be a small territory but it could destabilise Moldova and Ukraine, hence our assistance and our repeated calls to the Russian and Ukrainian authorities and to the breakaway leaders for a peaceful solution to be found to the conflict”, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told the European Parliament on Wednesday 23 November. (CG/transl.rt)