OSCE Chairman calls for Transdniestria settlement talks to restart, welcomes positive signs from both sides

CHISINAU, 17 January 2008 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva, called today for the resumption of settlement talks over Transdniestria and welcomed signs that both sides were willing to discuss the free movement of goods, services and people across the river.

"The OSCE has been working intensively with the chief negotiators to restart the 5+2 negotiations. My decision to come to Moldova at the very beginning of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship reflects our priority to bring progress to the talks. The OSCE, including my Special Envoy, Ambassador Heikki Talvitie, is ready to work with the other Mediators and Observers to assist both sides in finding lasting solutions," said Minister Kanerva.

He was referring to the 5+2 process that brings together the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the OSCE as mediators, together with the European Union and United States as observers, with the two parties represented by the authorities in Tiraspol and the Moldovan government.

Minister Kanerva was visiting Moldova, including its Transdniestrian region, as part of his first trip as OSCE Chairman-in-Office. He earlier visited Ukraine.

In Chisinau, the Chairman-in-Office met Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, Parliamentary Speaker Marian Lupu and Andrei Stratan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration. In Tiraspol, Minister Kanerva met the leadership of Moldova's breakaway Transdniestrian region.

The Chairman-in-Office welcomed recent signs that both sides were open to a good-faith dialogue on practical issues such as restrictions on freedom of movement and the interruption of communications links.

"This would be an important first step, and people on both sides of the river would profit if solutions for these practical matters were found," he said. "Furthermore, engagement can help build trust and assist us in achieving progress on the status question."