Special Representative’s visit underlines commitment of Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship to Transdniestrian Settlement Process

CHISINAU, 23 January 2020 – The new Special Representative of Albania’s OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting, today concluded his first visit to Moldova in his new capacity.

The visit, which came two weeks after the official launch of Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship, highlighted Albania’s focus on conflict resolution.

“As the Special Representative of Albanian Chair, it is my aim to support the Sides in working towards a comprehensive Transdniestrian settlement based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders with a special status for Transdniestria that fully guarantees the human, political, economic and social rights of its people,” Mayr-Harting noted.

In Chisinau, the Special Representative met with President Igor Dodon, Prime Minister Ion Chicu, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Alexandru Flenchea, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Aureliu Ciocoi. In Tiraspol, he met with Transdniestrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky and Chief Negotiator Vitaly Ignatiev.

Ambassador Mayr-Harting mapped the priorities for 2020 and called on the Sides to pursue a results-oriented approach to promote progress in the Settlement Process. “I urge the Sides to build on their leadership and local ownership to follow through with the commitments from the “Berlin-plus” Protocol and to tackle new confidence-building measures. The people on both banks need more results,” said Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting. 

Since 2017, Chisinau and Tiraspol have reached major achievements on five priority issues from the “Berlin-plus” Protocol. These relate to the apostilization of diplomas issued in Transdniestria, the functioning of the Latin-script schools, the use of farmlands in the Dubasari district and on the opening of the bridge across the Dniester/Nistru River between the villages of Gura Bicului and Bychok, as well as the participation of vehicles from Transdniestria in international road traffic. “These small steps make a difference for the people on both banks and serve as building blocks of the final and comprehensive settlement,” said Mayr-Harting. 

Recognizing that solutions to complex issues like the Transdniestrian Settlement Process require wide consensus, the Special Representative met in Chisinau with the representatives of political parties and civil society.

The visit also provided an opportunity for Ambassador Mayr-Harting to exchange views on the negotiations process with the resident Ambassadors of the 5+2 mediators and observers. “The agreement among the international partners in the 5+2 format on the principles of the Settlement Process is unique for the OSCE region,” noted the Special Representative. “Together with the Albanian Chair, the OSCE Mission as well as our co-mediators and observers, we will make full use of our collective potential to promote progress.”

Talks in the 5+2 format include the Sides — Moldova and Transdniestria - as well as the mediators — the OSCE, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine, and the observers - the United States and the European Union.