Russia, EU to take efforts to solve Transnistrian conflict in 5+2 format

CHISINAU, 7 June. /MOLDPRES/. Russia and Germany have proposed that a EU-Russia Political and Security Committee should be set up, according to a joint memorandum by Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev and German Chancelleor Angela Merkel. This commission will take efforts to solve the Transnistrian conflict in the five plus two format.
The committee should be steered by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "In particular the committee shall be empowered to hold a forum to exchange opinions on up-to-date issues of international policy and security, to hammer out principles for joint civilian/military operations of crisis management, to exchange opinions and to come out with recommendations concerning specific cooperation aspects, including conflicts and crisis situations," the memorandum said.
Russia and the EU will take efforts to solve the Transnistrian conflict, in particular by taking into account the progress made in the five plus two format (Moldova, Transnistria, Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE, the EU and the USA). "This cooperation may include Russia' and the EU's joint activities which would secure uninterrupted transition from the present situation to the final stage," the document said.
The sides agreed that progress made by the committee should be examined at the next EU-Russian summit.
While meeting Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat on 12 May 2010, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country would further back Moldova's efforts to settle the Transnistrian conflict. Merkel said she would discuss the issue with Russia too. "I am sure that a solution to this issue can be found through political will," Merkel said.