OSCE Chairperson visits Moldova, calls for official negotiations on Transdniestria

CHISINAU, 8 February 2011 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, said during a visit to Moldova that began today that he hopes that official negotiations in the "5+2" format can resume this year.

"The Transdniestrian settlement process needs the momentum that would be provided by official negotiations – and the time is ripe to take this step now," Ažubalis said. "Clearly, the negotiations will be long and tough, but they are our only option to work toward the goal we all want: genuine peace and stability for all."

The "5+2" format comprises the two sides and the mediators - the OSCE, Russia and Ukraine – as well as the European Union and the United States as observers.

In meetings with Acting President and Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu, Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca and the Moldovan Chief Negotiator, Deputy Prime Minister Eugen Carpov, Ažubalis planned to emphasize that the 2011 Lithuanian Chairmanship considers achieving concrete progress on protracted conflicts one of its main priorities.

He also noted that all 56 OSCE participating States agreed that “increased efforts should be made to resolve existing conflicts in the OSCE area in a peaceful and negotiated manner” in the Astana Commemorative Declaration, adopted in December at the OSCE Summit in Kazakhstan's capital.

"In parallel with supporting negotiations, we also strive to build confidence and security through concrete measures such as promoting direct contacts between people," Ažubalis said. "This is why we, at the very beginning of our Chairmanship, organized a joint study tour for students from both banks of the Dniestr/Nistru River to Vienna."

Ažubalis highlighted the crucial role the OSCE Mission to Moldova plays in supporting conflict-resolution efforts, as well as its work to promote human rights, democratization, gender equality, and to counter human trafficking.

Ažubalis is set to meet with the Transdniestrian leadership tomorrow. Meetings with civil society representatives and political party leaders are also on the agenda for the visit, which concludes Thursday.