OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Linde concludes visit to Moldova

CHISINAU, 6 October 2021 — OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde concluded her second official visit to the Republic of Moldova today.

“During my visit, I have been encouraged by the Sides’ interest and willingness to advance the Transdniestrian Settlement Process. Provided that the Sides engage constructively, I am willing to continue to give my political support to move the process forward,” Linde said.

Linde met in Chisinau with President Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu, and Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Vlad Kulminski. She also met in Bender with Transdniestrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky and Chief Negotiator Vitaly Ignatiev.

Her talks focused on the current state of affairs in the Transdniestrian Settlement Process and identifying concrete steps to further build trust and constructive dialogue between the Sides to move the Settlement Process forward at all levels. She affirmed the Chair’s full support to facilitating dialogue between the Sides and supporting the Sides in advancing a comprehensive and lasting political settlement of the Transdniestrian conflict in all its aspects, strengthening the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders with a special status for Transdniestria.

“My meetings in Chisinau and Bender have reinforced my conviction that it is possible to achieve tangible results in the Transdniestrian Settlement Process if the Sides continue to engage constructively,” she said.

The visit also reaffirms the Chairpersonship’s support for OSCE engagement in the country, through the OSCE Mission to Moldova and the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Thomas Mayr-Harting, who accompanied the Chairperson on her visit.

Linde underlined the importance of achieving the full and continuous implementation of the ‘Berlin-plus’ package and to develop joint proposals on further confidence-building measures that will serve a solid basis for further advancing the Settlement Process, including starting an exchange of views on political aspects of a final settlement. Moreover, she reiterated the need of keeping women, peace and security as well as gender equality high on the agenda in this context.

“The Swedish OSCE Chairpersonship stands ready to call a result-oriented ‘5+2’ meeting in Stockholm this year,” Linde said.

The Chairperson-in-Office also met with civil society representatives from both banks of the river to discuss conflict resolution, human rights, anti-corruption and the women, peace and security agenda.