Russia skeptical about soon resumption of 5+2 talks

So far, the Russian Federation cannot see either grounds or reason for resuming the 5+2 negotiations on resolving the Transnistrian conflict, Vladimir Tchizhov, the Russian Ambassador to the European Union, stated to the press.

The foreign media quoted him as saying he does not share the widespread belief that the restarting of regular meetings in the format of 5+2 [Moldova and Transnistria as the conflicting sides, Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE as international mediators and guarantors; and the European Union and the United States as observers] is able to solve all problems rapidly.

In his words, in order to achieve a tangible progress in the Transnistrian conflict settlement, it is necessary to have real negotiators on both Dniester River banks – officials capable of hearing one another, responsible statesmen able to make a weighty contribution to the settlement process, which was impossible to expect before the November 28 elections in Moldova.