David Kramer, US deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, on April 26, called for the resumption of talks on Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester. David Kramer told journalists in Chisinau that talks should immediately resume in the old 5+2 format (Moldova, Transdniester, and mediators from Russia, Ukraine, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the EU and the United States as observers).
A year after the last 5+2 meeting, the multilateral talks were suspended in February when Transdniestrian representatives refused to return to the negotiating table.
On April 13 a report by the Jamestown Foundation suggested Moldova and Russia were nearing a bilateral deal containing substantial concessions to Moscow and Tiraspol. It is not clear whether the visit by Kramer was prompted by the report, but the statement by Kramer, who acted as Washington's observer in earlier 5+2 meetings, is only the latest indication of heightened Western activity since the article.
The EU's special representative to Moldova, Kalman Mizsei, on April 21 flew to Moscow for talks on Transdniester at which, according to euobserver.com on April 23, U.S. diplomats were present, while, according to a report by the Basa news agency, Romania called on April 26 for a return to the old format. Romania is not a party to the talks, but, as a neighbor of Moldova with a shared history, it particularly interested in developments in the region.
A year after the last 5+2 meeting, the multilateral talks were suspended in February when Transdniestrian representatives refused to return to the negotiating table.
On April 13 a report by the Jamestown Foundation suggested Moldova and Russia were nearing a bilateral deal containing substantial concessions to Moscow and Tiraspol. It is not clear whether the visit by Kramer was prompted by the report, but the statement by Kramer, who acted as Washington's observer in earlier 5+2 meetings, is only the latest indication of heightened Western activity since the article.
The EU's special representative to Moldova, Kalman Mizsei, on April 21 flew to Moscow for talks on Transdniester at which, according to euobserver.com on April 23, U.S. diplomats were present, while, according to a report by the Basa news agency, Romania called on April 26 for a return to the old format. Romania is not a party to the talks, but, as a neighbor of Moldova with a shared history, it particularly interested in developments in the region.