Moldovan President Dodon: Ukraine can help to find a compromise in the Transnistria conflict
Moldovan President Igor Dodon believes that Ukraine can help his country find a compromise in resolving the issue of Transnistria, as he stated in an interview with Radio Liberty.
"Kyiv is an important partner in the 5 + 2 format, which was very active on this issue. Of course, a lot will depend on Ukraine's position," Dodon said, but did not specify exactly how Kyiv could assist.
He also admitted that during his Presidency he had no contact with his Ukrainian counterpart, and when asked about when a meeting with Poroshenko could take place, he answered, "everything in its own time."
Igor Dodon, known for his pro-Russian views, was elected president of Moldova in November 2016. During the TV debate, while still a candidate, he said that Crimea belongs to Russia.
In 1992, the primarily Russian-speaking region of Transnistria unilaterally proclaimed "independence" from the rest of Moldova. The self-proclaimed "independence" of Transnistria is not recognized by anyone in the world, although the region has substantial support from Russia - politically, economically and militarily.
After a brief war in 1992, during which about 1,200 people died, Chisinau lost control of this region of the country. During that conflict, individual soldiers and entire units of the Russian Army with armament and combat equipment fought on the side of the separatists.
In 1992, under a bilateral Russian-Moldovan agreement on administrative borders between Transnistria and the rest of Moldova, a peacekeeping operation was launched with the participation of Russian and Moldovan troops and armed formations.
International negotiations on the settlement of the Transnistrian problem are held in the 5 + 2 format (Moldova, Transnistria, Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE plus observers from the US and the EU).