Chairmanship

KYIV, 27 April 2013 - OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara today expressed his concern over recent actions that took place in the Security Zone, affecting calm and stability in the region.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office appealed to both sides to refrain from any unilateral steps that could create preconditions for tensions or even provoke conflict situations. “I call on the sides to keep order and stability in the Security Zone as factors directly influencing the process of the Transdniestrian settlement,” Kozhara said.

At the same time he positively evaluated the agreement reached between the Chisinau and Tiraspol leadership on facilitating freedom of movement during this year Orthodox Easter holidays and related memorial days. “I consider this step as evidence that the sides can reach mutual understanding and find solutions important for the everyday life of people on both banks of the Dniester. I hope that the both sides will take all the measures necessary to implement the reached agreement and will not create obstacles in its realization,” said the Chairperson.

Leonid Kozhara expects that during the next round of negotiations in the “5+2” format in Odesa on 23 and 24 May 2013, Chisinau and Tiraspol will make progress in agreeing upon the document on freedom of movement and find common ground in addressing a number of social, economic, humanitarian and security issues.