OSCE and other observers concerned by lack of dialogue between Moldova and Transdniestria

VIENNA, 20 March 2007 - The co-mediators seeking a solution to the Transdniestrian conflict issued the following statement today:

JOINT STATEMENT

On the meeting of the co-mediators from the OSCE, the Russian Federation and Ukraine and observers from the European Union and United States on the Transdniestrian settlement:

The co-mediators from the OSCE, the Russian Federation and Ukraine together with the observers from the European Union and the United States to the negotiating process on the Transdniestrian settlement said today they were concerned about the lack of political dialogue between the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria.

They urge the representatives of both Parties in the conflict to renew direct contact and their work in the "Permanent Conference on Political Issues within the Framework of the Negotiation Process." They expressed their readiness to organize a joint meeting with the political representatives in the nearest future in the 5+2 format.

A representative of the Spanish Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE was present at the meeting.