On 5-7 November 2012, the mediators – representatives of the OSCE, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation – and the observers – the United States and the European Union – took part in a three-day working visit to Chisinau and Tiraspol as part of the 5+2 Transdniestrian settlement process.
On 5-6 November, the delegation met in Chisinau with officials from the Government of Moldova, including Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Deputy Prime Minister Eugen Carpov, and with Speaker of Parliament Marian Lupu. On 7 November, the delegation travelled to Tiraspol to meet with Transdniestrian Leader Yevgeny Shevchuk, Chief Negotiator Nina Shtanski, and the co-chairs of the working groups for confidence-building measures.
The delegation also visited the Gura Bîcului brigde, one of several bridges spanning the Dniester/Nistru River. The bridge, which could provide a major transportation route linking Chisinau and Tiraspol to the Black Sea region, has been closed to vehicle traffic since the beginning of the last decade. Nonetheless, the issue of reopening the bridge remains on the agenda of the 5+2 talks.
-
Photo 1 of 11
Marian Lupu, Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, takes part in a meeting of the mediators and observers in the 5+2 talks on Transdniestrian settlement process, Chisinau, 6 November 2012. (OSCE/Igor Schimbător)
-
Photo 2 of 11
Eugen Carpov, Deputy Foreign Minister for Reintegration, during a meeting with the mediators and observers of the 5+2 process in Chisinau, 6 November 2012. (OSCE/Igor Schimbător)
-
Photo 3 of 11
Journalists take part in a press briefing at the OSCE Mission to Moldova during a three-day meeting of the mediators and observers in the 5+2 talks on the Transdniestrian settlement process, Chisinau, 6 November 2012. (OSCE/Igor Schimbător)
-
Photo 4 of 11
The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian settlement process, Ambassador Erwan Fouéré, at the train station in Chisinau before departing for Tiraspol, as part of a three-day working visit by the mediators and observers in the 5+2 talks on the Transdniestrian settlement process, 7 November 2012. (OSCE/Igor Schimbător)
-
Photo 5 of 11
Representatives of the OSCE, the European Union, the United States and Ukraine travel from Chisinau to Tiraspol by train on 7 November 2012 as part of a three-day visit by the mediators and observers in the 5+2 talks on the Transdniestrian settlement process. Resumption of train services was agreed between the parties to the conflict in 2010. (OSCE/Igor Schimbător)
-
Photo 6 of 11
Representatives of the OSCE, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine arrive in Tiraspol as part of a three-day working visit by the mediators and observers in the 5+2 talks on the Transdniestrian settlement process, 7 November 2012. Part of the visit was conducted in Chisinau as well. (OSCE/Igor Schimbator)
-
Photo 7 of 11
Ambassador Jennifer Brush (r), Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, reviews the agenda for a three-day visit to Chisinau and Tiraspol by the mediators and observers in the 5+2 talks on the Transdniestrian settlement process, Tiraspol, 7 November 2012. (OSCE/Igor Schimbător)
-
Photo 8 of 11
The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian settlement process, Ambassador Erwan Fouéré, meets with Transdniestrian authorities during a visit of the mediators and observers in the 5+2 talks on the Transdniestrian settlement process, Tiraspol, 7 November 2012. (OSCE/Igor Schimbător)
-
Photo 9 of 11
Transdniestrian leader Yevgeny Shevchuk (c) and chief negotiator Nina Shtanski (r) at a meeting with the mediators and observers of the 5+2 talks on the Transdniestrian settlement process, Tiraspol, 7 November 2012. (OSCE/Igor Schimbator)
-
Photo 10 of 11
The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian settlement process, Ambassador Erwan Fouéré, briefs the media in Tiraspol after a meeting of the co-chairs of the working groups for confidence-building measures in education, economy, law enforcement, road transportation, health and telecommunications, 7 November 2012. (OSCE/Igor Schimbător)
-
Photo 11 of 11
The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian settlement process, Ambassador Erwan Fouéré, briefs the media in Tiraspol after a meeting of the co-chairs of the working groups for confidence-building measures in education, economy, law enforcement, road transportation, health and telecommunications, 7 November 2012. (OSCE/Igor Schimbător)