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Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Baconschi on Friday held talks with the Republic of Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister Eugen Carpov, during which they reviewed the recent developments and prospects of the Transdniester file and issues relating the Moldovan domestic situation, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release to Agerpres.

Baconschi and Carpov hailed a decision to organise a formal 5+2 meeting in Vilnius on Nov. 30-Dec. 1, as they stressed this is but a first step required to bring about a genuine commitment of all the players to making progress on finding a settlement to the issue of the breakaway Transdniester region. They also reiterated support for the consultations under the 5+2 format, the release said.

The Romanian foreign minister underscored the importance of completing the Moldovan state's leading structure, of maintaining the unity of the ruling Alliance and of the continuation of the reforms in the neighbouring state, as he said such reforms are necessary to deepen the European route of Chisinau. He reconfirmed Romania's firm support for Moldova's European prospects and for strengthening the neighbouring country's relation with the European Union, the ministry said.

Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Carpov, who is the chief negotiator with the breakaway Transdniester region, earlier on Friday announced that the first round of the official 5+2 talks will take place on Nov. 30 - Dec. 1 in Vilnius, Lithuania, which is the OSCE chairman-in-office. He made the announcement after an official meeting with Romanian Senate Vice Speaker Cristian Diaconescu. AGERPRES