OSCE Mission hosts historic first meeting to draft new constitution for Moldova
(OSCE)Ambassador William Hill, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, hosts a historic meeting of a joint commission which will draft a new constutition for the country, Chisinau, 24 April 2003. (OSCE) Photo details
CHISINAU, 24 April 2003 - Today's first meeting of a newly-formed commission to draft a new constitution for Moldova was hailed as "historic" by Ambassador William Hill, Head of the OSCE Mission to the country.
"Throughout the OSCE region, your work is observed with the greatest attention and interest", he said, addressing members of the Joint Constitutional Commission of the Moldovan Republic and the Transdniestrian region of Moldova. "We attach profound hope for the success of your efforts".
The Commission members were appointed last week by their respective legislative bodies. Their task is to draft a new constitution for Moldova on the basis of a federal model providing a settlement for the Transdniestrian dispute.
Representatives of the three mediators to the long-standing dispute, the OSCE Mission, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office, Ambassador Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged, also participated in the meeting. The event took place in the OSCE Mission headquarters in Chisinau.
The formation of the Commission is a significant event in the history of Moldova, as the two sides have agreed to a common project of national reunification for the first time since the armed conflict between them ended in 1992.
The Commission was formed on the basis of a protocol agreed in the 18 March session of the negotiation process, which was subsequently endorsed by the Moldovan Parliament and the Transdniestrian 'Supreme Soviet', the legislative body of the unrecognized separatist region.
According to the agreement, the Joint Constitutional Commission is to produce a draft text within six months. This will be followed by two months of public discussion and possible amendment. A nationwide referendum on the draft of a new constitution is to be held no later than 1 February 2004. Nationwide elections for a new, united government should then be held no later than 25 February 2005.
"Throughout the OSCE region, your work is observed with the greatest attention and interest", he said, addressing members of the Joint Constitutional Commission of the Moldovan Republic and the Transdniestrian region of Moldova. "We attach profound hope for the success of your efforts".
The Commission members were appointed last week by their respective legislative bodies. Their task is to draft a new constitution for Moldova on the basis of a federal model providing a settlement for the Transdniestrian dispute.
Representatives of the three mediators to the long-standing dispute, the OSCE Mission, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office, Ambassador Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged, also participated in the meeting. The event took place in the OSCE Mission headquarters in Chisinau.
The formation of the Commission is a significant event in the history of Moldova, as the two sides have agreed to a common project of national reunification for the first time since the armed conflict between them ended in 1992.
The Commission was formed on the basis of a protocol agreed in the 18 March session of the negotiation process, which was subsequently endorsed by the Moldovan Parliament and the Transdniestrian 'Supreme Soviet', the legislative body of the unrecognized separatist region.
According to the agreement, the Joint Constitutional Commission is to produce a draft text within six months. This will be followed by two months of public discussion and possible amendment. A nationwide referendum on the draft of a new constitution is to be held no later than 1 February 2004. Nationwide elections for a new, united government should then be held no later than 25 February 2005.