GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Feb. 2, 2018) – Vladimir Yastrebchak, former minister of foreign affairs of Transnistria, gave the Transnistrian perspective on Moldova and Transnistria frozen conflict Feb. 1.

Oksana Ivanivna Syroyid, a Ukrainian politician and jurist, gives the Ukrainian perspective, and Gheorghe Balan, deputy prime minister for reintegration for the Republic of Moldova, gave the Moldovan perspective.

Their perspectives will help the 60 participants from 25 countries as they participate in the practical exercise in the next couple of days.

This exercise consists of negotiations on the Normalization of Relations between Moldova and Transnistria.

Moldova and Transnistria Conflict

Transnistria broke away from the former Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic of the Soviet Union in 1990. Fighting broke out between the two sides in the spring of 1992 with the breakup of the Soviet Union. In July 1992, the Transnistrian authorities and the central government in the Republic of Moldova agreed on a ceasefire.

Although there has been economic cooperation and free movement between the two, the conflict remains to this day and is a major obstacle for the Republic of Moldova’s membership into the European Union.