Release of Ilie Ilascu gives hope for settling outstanding issues

BUCHAREST, 7 May 2001 - The Chairman in Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana welcomes the release from prison of Mr. Ilie Ilascu, after nine years of detention.

He welcomed the committed efforts undertaken by Mr. Vladimir Voronin, President of the Republic of Moldova, at the request of Romanian President Ion Iliescu, in view of ensuring the release of Mr. Ilascu on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Geoana also expressed his gratitude to the OSCE participating States for having contributed to this achievement.

The Council of Europe, Amnesty International and other international governmental and non-governmental organizations have demanded the release of Mr. Ilascu and his colleagues. "They are all to be commended for their contributions to this success," Mr. Geoana said. Since its establishment in 1993, the OSCE Mission in Moldova has continued to press for Mr. Ilascu's release.

Mr. Ilascu's release gives hope that all parties involved in the Transdniestria conflict will engage in a genuine dialogue in view of settling the outstanding issues facing the Republic of Moldova.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office strongly appeals to the Tiraspol authorities to effect the speedy release on humanitarian grounds of other members of the Ilascu group.