OSCE Chairperson welcomes resumption of Chisinau-Odessa rail transport through Transdniestria

ASTANA, 1 October 2010 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Secretary of State and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev, made the following statement today welcoming the resumption of railway passenger transportation between Chisinau and Odessa through Transdniestria:

"I welcome the resumption of railway passenger transportation between Chisinau and Odessa through Transdniestria as of 1 October 2010.

"The European Union's support has played an important role in reaching an agreement on this issue. Efforts by the international mediators and successful interaction among the participants in the 5+2 process for the settlement of the Transdniestria conflict have contributed to enhancing the dialogue between the sides for the resolution of practical problems of people on both banks of the Dniestr/Nistru River.

"The current year is marked by regular consultations on various levels and the intensification of activities of the Joint Expert Groups on Confidence Building Measures. It should undoubtedly facilitate reaching a lasting and comprehensive political settlement of the Transdniestrian problem, which requires resumption of the formal negotiations in the 5+2 format.

"In this regard, the OSCE Chairmanship calls on all participants of the process to intensify work in the context of elaborating the agenda of the upcoming OSCE Summit in Astana on 1 and 2 December."

The Chairmanship also welcomed the "football diplomacy" that resulted in a second meeting between Moldovan Prime Vlad Filat and Transdniestrian leader Igor Smirnov yesterday evening during a football game between FC Sheriff and Dinamo Kiev in Tiraspol.

The 5+2 process for the settlement of the Transdniestria conflict includes the sides (the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria) and the mediators and observers (Russian Federation, Ukraine, United States, European Union and OSCE).