Moldovan parliament for boosting EU's role in Transnistrian conflict settlement

The parliament speaks out for boosting the European Union's (EU) role in the Transnistrian conflict settlement process, as this conflict exceeds Moldova s internal framework, it is a problem of the EU's border which cannot but bother the European Union. And this is because the conflict influences the stability in the region.

Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu made statements to this effect at a news conference held along with Vice President of the European Parliament Miguel Angel Martinez Martinez, on a 28-30 October visit to Moldova.

Lupu said that the European Union becoming an active player, not just an observer, would have favorable effects on the negotiations on this issue, both at the stage of identifying a solution and at the post-conflict stage.

For his part, the vice president of the European Parliament said that the European Union wants to more actively involve in the Transnistrian conflict settlement. The organization’s present status of observer in the negotiating process is insufficient.

The high official said that the European Union should play the proper role in the Transnistrian conflict settlement on the international stage, not only the role of observer. "When there is a crisis on anther continent, the EU has no possibility to involve, but when the problem is at the European Union's border, the organization has to involve in its settlement."

The vice president of the European Parliament added that such an important organization as the EU should not remain absent in such situations, it must be an efficient actor. Martinez expressed hope that the future European Treaty will see provisions which will allow the EU to actively involve in the Transnistrian problem.

Also today, the vice president of the European Parliament, Miguel Angel Martinez Martinez had a meeting with President Vladimir Voronin, within which the two officials exchanged opinions on both Moldova's relations with the European Union and the present stage and prospects for the Transnistrian settlement.