Conflict prevention and resolution

The Head of Mission, as the OSCE mediator, uses shuttle diplomacy to mediate between Chisinau and Tiraspol: s/he facilitates negotiations between the two Chief Negotiators and in the 13 thematic Working Groups. At the international level, the OSCE Chairmanships, in consultation with the mediators, convene meetings in the 5+2 format to mark the progress reached by the Sides on the ground and establish new objectives and timelines to advance the settlement process (Berlin, Vienna, Rome protocols). The 5+2 format includes Moldova and Transdniestria as the Sides, the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Russian Federation, and Ukraine as the mediators, and the European Union and the United States as observers.

Since the December 2016 OSCE Ministerial Statement, the negotiations process at all levels has worked on the basis of an output-based approach. This has put the focus on the Sides – Moldova and Transdniestria – to develop and implement practical outputs to advance the settlement process. At the start of 2017, the Sides identified a “package of eight” priorities, with agreements reached on six of them in November 2017 and in April 2018. As of September 2018, five of the agreements have been implemented. As it is up to the Sides to define the special status for Transdniestria within Moldova, the agreements reached within the “package of eight” has started that process.

Since 1994 the Mission has participated as an observer in the Joint Control Commission (JCC). In keeping with the 2004 Agreement on the Principles of Co-operation between the Mission and the JCC, the Mission gathers and provides information on the situation in the Security Zone through the established channels.