Mediators and observers of the 5+2 talks meet in Chisinau and Tiraspol

On 5-7 November 2012, the mediators – representatives of the OSCE, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation – and the observers – the United States and the European Union – took part in a three-day working visit to Chisinau and Tiraspol as part of the 5+2 Transdniestrian settlement process.

On 5-6 November, the delegation met in Chisinau with officials from the Government of Moldova, including Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Deputy Prime Minister Eugen Carpov, and with Speaker of Parliament Marian Lupu. On 7 November, the delegation travelled to Tiraspol to meet with Transdniestrian Leader Yevgeny Shevchuk, Chief Negotiator Nina Shtanski, and the co-chairs of the working groups for confidence-building measures.

The delegation also visited the Gura Bîcului brigde, one of several bridges spanning the Dniester/Nistru River. The bridge, which could provide a major transportation route linking Chisinau and Tiraspol to the Black Sea region, has been closed to vehicle traffic since the beginning of the last decade. Nonetheless, the issue of reopening the bridge remains on the agenda of the 5+2 talks.