OSCE Special Representative Frattini outlines priorities for first visit to Republic of Moldova

VIENNA, 16 March 2018 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s Special Representative for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process Franco Frattini will travel to the Republic of Moldova from 26 to 28 March 2018 in his first visit to the country in this capacity. He will hold talks with top-level Moldovan officials and leadership in Tiraspol, including both Chief Negotiators. He will also meet with resident ambassadors of the “5+2” negotiation format. The appointment of Frattini – a former Italian Foreign Minister and Vice-President of the European Commission – underlines the importance the Italian OSCE Chairmanship attaches to advancing the settlement process.

“I see my task, in tandem with the OSCE Mission to Moldova and our international partners in the ‘5+2’ process, to have all eight agreements implemented this year”, the OSCE Special Representative noted in an interview with Radio Free Europe’s Moldovan Service on 9 March. “Five agreements of a package of eight previously identified by the Sides were signed in November and three outstanding agreements remain to be reached per the ‘5+2’ Vienna Protocol.” Frattini’s visit comes amid a need to embed the new positive dynamic in the settlement process by finalizing and implementing all eight agreements. Each of the agreements are inter-related like the freedom of movement and free flow of vehicular traffic across the recently opened Gura Bicului-Bychok bridge.

In the interview, the Special Representative also pointed out that the final settlement – an affirmation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders with a special status for Transdniestria – will not disadvantage Moldova. This end state has been unanimously endorsed by all 57 OSCE participating States, including the Republic of Moldova. The interview to Radio Free Europe is available in Romanian and Russian. An English translation can be accessed on the OSCE website here.

Since assuming his role at the beginning of 2018, Frattini has been in regular contact with the Sides and international partners engaged in the Settlement Process. The Special Representative’s adviser, Alfredo Conte, has travelled to Moldova and held a range of meetings to prepare for Frattini’s visit.

Commenting on the upcoming trip, Frattini applauded the progress developed last autumn in the Settlement Process and commended the Sides for their constructive approach and ownership of the process. “The glue that will make the settlement work will be the trust gained through the agreements the Sides have reached and implemented. This is what will bring closer the day when a final settlement will be possible. I look forward to learning more in person during my visit at the end of March, and assessing how I can help that goal to be achieved,” Special Representative Frattini concluded.