Ukraine is pronouncing itself for the involvement of the US and EU in the negotiations on the Transdniestrian conflict, while the Republic of Moldova wants the extension of the negotiating format and with Romania's participation.

One session at the international conference "Moldova and Europe: drawing closer" which unfolded in Chisinau, was dedicated to the issue of frontiers and neighborhood.

Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan stated at the conference that our country is for a new type of neighborhood, which does not generate new lines of division on the European map after the EU extension. He underlined that Moldova's frontier rigidity with the EU must be determined by the commitments established in the EU-Moldova Plan of Actions and that our country wants to become a linking belt between Eastern Europe and the Black Sea Bazin. In this context, Stratan mentioned the importance of settling the Transdniestrian conflict and stated that the attraction in negotiations of Romania, EU and US will enable a more rapid and durable settlement of the conflict. Stratan emphasized that region’s demilitarization and democratization will be determinative factors for the status that this region will have in future.

In his turn, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Igor Dolgov stated that in Kiev's opinion, in order to peacefully settle the Transdniestrian conflict it is sufficient to attract in negotiations the US and EU. He also said that the proposals formulated by Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko on April 22 must be discussed by Chisinau and Tiraspol, with the assistance of Ukraine, Russia, OSCE, US and EU.

In his turn, director of the Division of Enlarged Europe and the Republic of Moldova of the Foreign Ministry of Romania, Traian Hristea stated that Bucharest backs any efforts that would bring progresses in the settlement of the Transdniestrian conflict, with the observance of Moldova’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said that Romania is willing to involve in the process of negotiations and that Moldova's approach to the EU will help the settlement of many problems that our country confronts.

International conference "Moldova and Europe: drawing closer" was organized by the Association for South Eastern Europe with the support of the Foreign Ministry of Germany and Public Policy Institute of Moldova.