On Wednesday representatives from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Russia and Ukraine, along with the European Union and the United States acting as observers, concluded meetings with leaders from Moldova and the breakaway region of Transdniestria, the OSCE reported.

The so-called three-plus-two conflict resolution meetings resulted in calls for Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and Alexander Korolyev, deputy leader of Transdniestria, to demonstrate a political willingness to end their long-running conflict.

"Your political impetus will be the key to the success of the working groups tasked to elaborate confidence-building measures," Ambassador Heikki Talvitie, OSCE special envoy, said in a statement.

"We encouraged the joint expert groups to intensify their work."

A cease-fire enacted in 1992 after a war erupted between Moldova and Transdniestria has remained in effect. But the status of Transdniestria, an autonomous region unrecognized as an independent country, remains in doubt.

Officials say the three-plus-two meetings were an effort to discuss confidence-building measures as a way to open a dialogue between Moldova and Transdniestria.