In first visit to region, Special Representative reaffirms commitment of German OSCE Chairmanship to the Transdniestrian settlement process

CHISINAU, 17 February 2016 – The Special Representative of the German OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Cord Meier-Klodt, today concluded his first visit to the region in his new capacity, which included meetings with the political leadership in Chisinau and Tiraspol.

Ambassador Meier-Klodt took up his position as Special Representative in January 2016 and will hold it throughout the German Chairmanship of the OSCE. This visit forms part of a series of meetings with 5+2 partners in their respective capitals where prospects on how to move the Transdniestrian settlement process forward in 2016 were discussed.

In Chisinau, Meier-Klodt met with Prime Minister Pavel Filip, Speaker of Parliament Andrian Candu, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration and Chief Negotiator Gheorghe Balan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economy Octavian Calmac, and Foreign Minister Andrei Galbur. In Tiraspol, Meier-Klodt met with Transdniestrian leader Yevgeny Shevchuk and Chief Negotiator Vitaly Ignatiev.

“As the Special Representative for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, I am committed to supporting the sides towards finding a comprehensive, just and viable solution to the Transdniestrian conflict based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova with a special status for Transdniestria,” Meier-Klodt said. “We are determined to do our utmost to reconvene talks within the 5+2 format as early as possible and to re-establish the true meaning of this important political platform.”

The Special Representative further reiterated the commitment of the German Chairmanship to reinvigorating dialogue between the sides in order to strengthen mutual confidence and improve the lives of people on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River.

“Past experience has demonstrated that tangible results can be achieved through frequent, focused and direct dialogue between the sides in all formats – including 5+2 talks, 1+1 meetings between the Chief Negotiators and working group sessions,” reaffirmed Meier-Klodt. “I intend to strengthen this framework to ensure that all the available mechanisms in the settlement process are utilized effectively in order to obtain the best possible outcome for both sides and to turn promising statements into concrete actions.”

Talks in the 5+2 format include the participation of representatives of the sides, mediators and observers – Moldova, Transdniestria, the OSCE, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union.