Talks on breakaway republic Transdnestr to resume next month

The talks on Moldova's breakaway republic of Transdnestr will resume in early November in the unrecognized republic's capital of Tiraspol, a high-ranking European diplomat said. The 5+2 talks involving Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE, Moldova, Transdnestr, as well as the U.S. and the EU, stalled in 2006. "We are now discussing the dates for all 5+2 representatives to arrive to Transdnesr for talks on political platform and other issues," said Miroslav Lajcak, the Managing Director for Russia, Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans of the EU European External Action Service. The unrecognized republic's president Igor Smirnov said his delegation would not discuss "Moldova's territorial integrity" at the talks. "If there are any attempts to raise the issue of Moldova's territorial integrity, [the talks] will fail," he said. The Russian-speaking province of Transdnestr has maintained de facto independence from Moldova since a brief war in 1992, which erupted from a buildup of tensions following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Joint peacekeeping force of Russian, Moldovan and Transdnestr contingent has been deployed in the area. Transdnestr seeks full independence, while Moldova says it is only ready to give it autonomy.