Progress in confidence building base for progress in Transdniestrian settlement, says OSCE Special Envoy

CHISINAU, 23 September 2010 - The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for Protracted Conflicts, Ambassador Bolat Nurgaliyev, today welcomed recent progress in building confidence between the Moldovan Government and the authorities in Tiraspol.

"The work of the Joint Expert Groups on Confidence Building Measures and the regular, intensive direct contacts between the leaderships in Chisinau and Tiraspol are a good basis for real progress in the Transdniestrian settlement process," Nurgaliyev said.

The Special Envoy was in Chisinau and Tiraspol leading a delegation of the Mediators and Observers in the Transdniestria settlement process. The representatives met the leaders, political negotiators and other senior officials on both sides and the chairs of the joint experts working groups on confidence-building measures.

Nurgaliyev praised both sides for their constructive efforts in finding practical solutions to issues affecting the lives of ordinary people and the economy on both sides of the Dniestr/Nistru River, noting especially the "football diplomacy" that led to a meeting last month between Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat and Transdniestrian leader Igor Smirnov.

"We view the settlement as a process of building ever-greater capacity to resolve problems together, both through such renewed direct dialogue and through internationally-mediated negotiations in the 5+2 format," he said.

The Mediators and Observers in the Transdniestrian settlement process represent the OSCE, Russia, Ukraine, United States and the European Union. They visited Chisinau and Tiraspol from 20 to 22 September in preparation for consultations in the 5+2 format on 27 and 28 September in Vienna.