Transdniestrian settlement mediators and observers stress need to make progress

CHISINAU, 7 November 2012 – An OSCE-organized working visit to the region of the mediators and observers in the 5+2 talks on Transdniestrian settlement concluded in Chisinau today.

The three-day visit of representatives from the OSCE, Ukraine, the Russian Federation, the United States and the European Union was organized by the Irish OSCE Chairmanship together with the OSCE Mission to Moldova.

On 5-6 November the delegation met with Government of Moldova officials, including  Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Deputy Prime Minister Eugen Carpov, and with Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu. On 7 November, the delegation travelled to Tiraspol to meet with Transdniestrian Leader Yevgeny Shevchuk, Chief Negotiator Nina Shtanski, and the Co-chairs of the working groups for confidence-building measures in education, economy, law enforcement, road transportation, health and telecommunication areas.

The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian settlement process, Ambassador Erwan Fouéré, who led the OSCE delegation, stressed the significance of the working visit for the preparation of the next round of official 5+2 talks, and the need to maintain momentum in the negotiation process. He also highlighted the role of civil society and media in the Transdniestrian settlement process.

“I would encourage continued regular meetings of the two chief negotiators,” he said. “These regular contacts are the best way to prepare for our next official meeting in Dublin at the end of this month.”

The visit participants also had an opportunity to get better acquainted with the situation on the ground; they took a passenger train from Chisinau to Tiraspol and had a stopover at the Gura Bicului bridge over the Dniestr/Nistru river. Reopening of the bridge remains on the agenda of the 5+2 talks.

“As a next step in building trust I am appealing to the sides to resolve the outstanding issues that are preventing full opening of the Gura Bicului bridge,” Fouéré said. “Reopening of this bridge would send a powerful message of progress and make a positive impact on the lives of the people on both banks of the river.”

The 5+2 format includes representatives of the sides, mediators and observers in the negotiation process – Moldova, Transdniestria, the OSCE, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the US and the EU. Official negotiations were resumed in November 2011 following a hiatus of almost six years. The next official 5+2 talks are scheduled to take place in Dublin from 28 to 30 November.