Press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

VIENNA, 8 March 2011 - The following is a press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on 8 March. The views expressed in this press release do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE Chairmanship, nor of all OSCE participating States.

Parliamentary Team supports OSCE work in Moldova

CHISINAU, 8 March 2011 –  The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Parliamentary Team on Moldova expressed hope for greater co-operation between Chisinau and Tiraspol today upon concluding a three-day visit to the country.

The delegation led by Walburga Habsburg Douglas (Sweden) visited Chisinau and Tiraspol 6-8 March 2011 for meetings with Speaker of Parliament and Acting President Marian Lupu, Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Iurie Leanca, the Delegation of Moldova to the OSCE PA, negotiators on both sides of the Nistru river, representatives of the Supreme Soviet in Tiraspol as well as key members of the international community.

In their meetings, the team expressed hope for cooperation with representatives from Chisinau and Tiraspol through the OSCE’s parliamentary dimension and explored ways to add to the OSCE Mission’s work to build trust between all parties in the country.

“We are here in solidarity with our parliamentary colleagues, and to lend support to the important work done by the OSCE Mission to Moldova,” Ms. Habsburg Douglas said.  “We have enjoyed fruitful discussions in Chisinau and Tiraspol. We look forward to discussing the situation in Moldova at our annual session this summer in Belgrade as well as possibly hosting a separate event to build contacts between the parliament of Moldova and the Transnistrian Supreme Soviet.”

Members of the Parliamentary Assembly delegation included Mr. Francois-Xavier de Donnea (Belgium), Ms. Canan Kalsin (Turkey) and Mr. Alf Dubs (UK). The OSCE Mission to Moldova coordinated the visit in cooperation with the parliament of Moldova.

“The engagement of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is a great opportunity for opening channels of communication and building confidence between the sides,” said Ambassador Philip N. Remler, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova. “Ms. Habsburg Douglas has come forward with new initiatives that have interested both sides, and we will follow up.”

Established in 2000, the mandate of the Parliamentary Team on Moldova calls for promoting peace, stability and the rule of law in Moldova, while affirming the unity of the state and promoting dialogue between parties and organizations representing different sections of the Moldovan population. Resolving the Transnistrian conflict is a particular priority of the Parliamentary Team.