Press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

VIENNA, 1 July 2011 - The following is a press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on 1 July. The views expressed in this press release do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE Chairmanship, nor of all OSCE participating States.

PA Resolution on Moldova supports OSCE work on Transdniestria

COPENHAGEN, 1 July 2011— Following the recent informal 5+2 talks in Moscow, parliamentarians from across 55 countries will focus on the situation in Moldova during the Annual Session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, which opens in Belgrade 6 July.

The resolution, introduced by Walburga Habsburg Douglas (MP, Sweden), reaffirms support for the 5+2 negotiations as the format for resolving the Transdniestrian conflict, backs democratization efforts in the country and appeals to Russia to finalize withdrawal of its troops from Moldova.

“I welcome the vibrant and direct dialogue on Moldova that our Assembly is known to foster,” said Habsburg Douglas, chair of the Parliamentary Team on Moldova, which works closely with the OSCE Mission to Moldova. “This resolution will remind the sides in Chisinau and Tiraspol that our network of parliamentarians is committed to engagement in the region. In the context of the very recent 5+2 discussions in Moscow, we hope to lend support the negotiations process.”

The resolution, with support from 51 parliamentarians from 19 countries, also supports:
• political dialogue and People-to-people contacts to help increase mutual trust in Moldova
• the willingness of Moldovan parliamentarians and Supreme Soviet representatives to meet informally in Stockholm this October

The resolution will be considered for inclusion in the Assembly’s Belgrade Declaration, which helps set OSCE policy and shape domestic legislation. Parliamentarians from throughout 55 participating OSCE countries will debate and vote on the resolution and declaration in Belgrade.

The Annual Session, including committee debates and votes, are open to the press and public. The session runs 6-10 July 2011. For more information on the Annual Session, click here.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 320 parliamentarians from 55 countries spanning, Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international cooperation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.