OSCE Secretary General concludes visit to Moldova

CHISINAU, 3 March 2022 — OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid concluded her two-day official visit to Moldova, during which she met with OSCE staff who were temporarily evacuated from Ukraine and with high level officials.

Secretary General Schmid met with OSCE staff who were recently relocated from Ukraine due to the deteriorated security situation. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude and admiration for the dedication of OSCE staff in Ukraine and assured that the OSCE will support them in every way possible.

“It is hard to put into words how proud I and the whole OSCE community are of the great work you have been doing in Ukraine,” she underlined. “I want to re-emphasise that this relocation is temporary. The situation is dire right now, but I will make every effort to resume our work in the country as soon as it is safe to do so. I reiterate my call for the immediate cessation of all military activities.”

In Chisinau, Schmid also met with President Maia Sandu, and with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicolae Popescu. She thanked them for their rapid support to facilitate the arrival of evacuated OSCE staff in Moldova. They highlighted Moldova’s preparedness to accommodate refugees and the need to support these efforts.

The Secretary General also praised the crucial role played by the OSCE Mission to Moldova, both in its long-term role in building confidence between the sides, and for the support provided to OSCE staff that were evacuated from Ukraine in recent days.