OSCE Special Representative, at 5+2 Transdniestrian settlement talks, highlights need to maintain momentum

LVIV, Ukraine, 19 February 2013 - The OSCE Chairperson's Special Representative for conflicts, Ambassador Andrii Deshchytsia, urged the sides to maintain momentum in the Transdniestrian settlement process in talks that concluded today in the Ukrainian city of Lviv.

The Transdniestrian settlement process is a top priority for Ukraine’s OSCE Chairmanship. These talks, the first this year in the 5+2 format, followed recent visits to Moldova by both the OSCE Chairperson, Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara and the Special Representative Deshchytsia where they discussed the process with the Moldovan and Transdniestrian leadership.

"Today we have taken steps forward in discussing issues important to Chisinau and Tiraspol and the ways to solve them. It is now up to all of us involved - mediators and observers, but most of all the two sides - to help accelerate the pace of progress," said Deshchytsia.

He stressed the negative impact of the conflict on people’s lives and the need to move forward.

"We can only approach a lasting political settlement by moving forward in areas where agreement is within reach, such as on freedom of movement, which has been intensively discussed in recent weeks,” Deshchytsia said.

“I urge both sides to refrain from taking any measures that could degrade the atmosphere as we work out the complex details of the issues before us,” he added.

Deshchytsia announced that the next 5+2 meeting would be held in May in Odesa, Ukraine. He also reiterated the proposal of OSCE Chairperson to host a meeting between the Moldovan and Transdniestrian leaders this year.

“I encourage regular direct contacts between the sides at both the political and the expert level. The Ukrainian Chairmanship and the OSCE Mission to Moldova stand ready to facilitate such meetings,” said Deshchytsia.

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.