TIRASPOL. March 4 (Interfax-AVN) - It will be impossible to resume negotiations on ways to settle the Transdniestrian conflict in the "5+2" format as long as Moldova continues to put economic pressure on the breakaway republic, Transdniestria's Foreign Minister Vladimir Yastrebchak told a briefing in Tiraspol on Wednesday.
"Serious prerequisites are needed to restart the negotiating process in the "5+2" format. We believe it is unadvisable to renew the talks in this format as long as economic pressure continues. Resuming the "5+2" format would mean that we pretend that nothing has happened," Yastrebchak said.
The authorities in Tiraspol have repeatedly stated that, in an attempt to minimize the impact of the global crisis on its own economy, Moldova has restricted imports from the self-proclaimed republic, ordered Transdniestrian companies to obtain registration with the Moldovan authorities and to pay taxes to the Moldovan budget. Chisinau's position has also hampered efforts to restore direct rail links between Moldova and Transdniestria.
The "5+2" format involves Moldova, Transdniestria, the OSCE, Russia and Ukraine, as well as the U.S. and the EU, which act as observers.