OSCE Chairmanship urges Transdniestrian authorities to restore Moldovan schools

CHISINAU, 22 July 2004 - Petko Draganov, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, urged the Transdniestrian authorities today on behalf of the OSCE Chairmanship to reverse their actions taken against the schools in Tiraspol, Bender and Ribnita and to restore the situation as of the beginning of July 2004.

Vice-Minister Draganov is on a two day emergency visit to Moldova which reflects the special attention being paid by the OSCE Chairmanship to the recent actions inhibiting the functioning of Moldovan schools in the Transdniestrian region of the Republic of Moldova.

The high representative of the OSCE Chairmanship discussed possible ways to a negotiated solution of the current situation with Moldovan Minister for Reintegration, Vasile Sova, Moldovan Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eugenia Chistruga and Transdniestrians chief negotiator, Valery Litskai.

Vice-Minister Draganov also met advisers to the Moldovan President, educational officials, teachers and parents from the schools concerned and consulted with the Russian and Ukrainian mediators in the political settlement process as well as with ambassadors of other OSCE participating states resident in Chisinau.

While speaking to the press in Chisinau today, he noted that there is a clearly expressed will by the parents of children enrolled in these schools that they should learn their mother tongue in the Latin script. He also emphasized that choosing the language of instruction is a basic human right.

"I call on both sides to use the negotiation process on this matter and to work out an agreement which would allow the Moldovan schools teaching in the Latin script in the Transdniestrian region of the Republic of Moldova to function freely", the Vice-Minister said.

"I especially urge both sides to refrain from any unilateral measures and to resolve all differences in the framework of the established negotiation process in the shortest possible time", he added

The Vice-Minister further appealed to both sides to exercise restraint and to redouble their efforts in pursuit of a negotiated solution.