Russia will facilitate resumption of direct contacts between Chisinau and Tiraspol: Ambassador of Russia to Moldova

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“Russia will facilitate the resumption of direct contacts between Chisinau and Tiraspol,” — said Valery Kuzmin, Russian Ambassador to Moldova at a press conference in Chisinau. According to Ambassador, latest developments in South Ossetia could push the process of the Transdnestr settlement. The Russian diplomat expressed confidence that the Transdnestr conflict must be resolved peacefully by political means, and Russia is ready to facilitate this.

Recalling the initiative to establish a joint group on humanitarian assistance, Valery Kuzmin said that “negotiation progress depends on the steps taken by all the sides.” At the same time, Kuzmin avoided answering the question about changing the “5 +2” format and the status of Russian peacekeeping forces in the security zone. According to him, the Russiain peacekeeping force has repeatedly proved its effectiveness in the zone of conflict.

On August 26, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in his summer residence in Sochi welcomed President of Transdnestr Moldovan Republic Igor Smirnov. Earlier, Russian president met with Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin. According to the REGNUM sources in Russian MFA, Moscow may propose to the parties to return to the famous “Kozak memorandum” known to be initially approved and then rejected by Voronin in 2003.