German Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Frank-Walter Steinmeier is satisfied with the outcomes of his visit to Chisinau and Tiraspol.

"I believe the visit was appropriate. I believe this was the right approach to come here and meet with both conflicting parties," Steinmeier said at a news briefing in Tiraspol on Tuesday.

Germany, as the country currently holding the OSCE presidency, remains committed to assisting the parties in reaching agreement "on minor issues," he said.

"Our experience suggests that the settlement of such longstanding and long-drawn conflicts needs to be started with the discussion of minor issues to build confidence, based on which the parties could then move toward resolving more complicated issues," he said.

"I learned both in Chisinau yesterday and here in Tiraspol today that this is a difficult way. But we are determined to further follow this way of small steps, and this is why we are here. We will continue to address issues in the 5+2 format so as to improve the living conditions for the people on both sides of the Dniester river," Steinmeier said.

Among the problems that need to be settled in a priority manner, Steinmeier mentioned issues regarding telecommunications, the recognition and verification of higher education diplomas, and car license plates.

During his visit to Tiraspol, the German foreign minister met with Transdniestrian Prime Minister Pavel Prokudin, acting Foreign Minister Vitali Ignatiev, and parliamentary speaker Vadim Krasnoselski.