Moldovan foreign minister, OSCE head broach Transnistrian conflict-related issues

Chisinau, 13 March /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Natalia Gherman met Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Michael Scanlan today, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry’s information and media communication services has reported.

As for the Transnistrian conflict-related issues, Natalia Gherman stressed that the Moldovan authorities were interested in making the settlement process more dynamic, with the first step in this respect being a 12 March meeting of the political representatives, and a meeting of the heads of the confidence building working groups, scheduled for 20 March.

In the context, Gherman emphasised that Moldova’s modernisation by implementing the Moldova-EU Association Agreement would lead to bolstering confidence between the two banks of Dniester. “An important goal lies in identifying efficient ways of the Transnistrian region's participation in the Free Trade Area with the European Union, which will only bring benefits to people and business community from the left bank of Dniester as a result of the European integration,” Gherman said.

Natalia Gherman also reiterated that the Transnistrian conflict solving, on the basis of Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity, by providing a special statute to the region, stayed a key priority of the Moldovan authorities.

Gherman underlined that the Moldovan authorities paid increased attention to the integration of national minorities, as this is an important factor for maintaining stability and a united society. Moldova’s authorities cooperate with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in this sector.

For his part, Michael Scanlan welcomed the actions of the Moldovan authorities in fostering the dialogue on the Transnistrian conflict settlement, as well as an increased prioritizing  in terms of ethnic minorities' integration.   

(Editor A. Raileanu)