Transdniestrian settlement talks in Kyiv conclude with decisions on freedom of movement, pensions and social assistance, waste facilities reconstruction

KYIV, 26 November 2013 - The fifth and final 2013 round of official negotiations on the Transdniestrian settlement in the 5+2 format under the Ukrainian Chairmanship concluded in Kyiv today with protocol decisions on freedom of movement, pensions and social assistance for people who changed their place of residence, and on reconstruction of waste processing facilities.

In the presence of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Leonid Kozhara, Special representative of the Chair for conflicts Ambassador Andrii Deshchytsia said he highly valued the appreciation of the Chairmanship’s efforts during the year voiced by political representatives of the sides, mediators and observers in the 5+2 process.

“The constructive spirit of the negotiations, the resumption of a direct dialogue between the Chisinau and Tiraspol leadership, as well as work to solve people’s concrete problems are the main results of the work carried out by the Ukrainian OSCE Chairmanship this year,” he said.

The discussions in Kyiv were based on the thematic structure of the «three baskets» of agreed agenda: socio-economic issues, general legal and humanitarian issues and human rights, along with comprehensive settlement matters, including institutional, political and security issues.

Deshchytsia welcomed the decision of the Moldovan side to introduce legislative amendments which would create conditions for free movement of people living permanently on the left bank, including holders of Russian and Ukrainian passports. In this context the political representatives initialed a protocol decision on freedom of movement of people which Deshchytsia called a “welcome development”.

“I am also encouraged by the practical outcome of our discussion on social problems – the signing of a protocol decision reflecting agreements reached on mechanisms for payment of pensions and social assistance for people who change their place of residence,” said Deshchytsia.

The meeting participants exchanged opinions on conducting confidence building projects with support of international donors, as well as the next steps to implement the decision of the Odesa round of talks in May this year on dismantling the outdated cable car across Dniester/Nistru River. A protocol decision on the project of reconstruction of waste processing facilities in the cities of Dubasari and Criuleni was signed.

Ambassador Jennifer Brush, Head of OSCE Mission to Moldova, said: “I am encouraged by today's discussions on the opening of the Gura Bicului-Bicioc bridge. The OSCE Mission to Moldova remains committed to providing all the necessary support to the Swiss and Serbian Chairmanship in 2014-2015, and to the sides to find a comprehensive solution to the Transdniestrian conflict."

The next meeting of the «Permanent conference on political issues in the framework of the negotiation process on the Transdsniestrian settlement» in the 5+2 format will take place in the end of February 2014 in Chisinau and Tiraspol.