Moldovan PM meets Austrian official

Chisinau, 4 February /MOLDPRES/- Prime Minister Pavel Filip today had a meeting with OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz. The officials discussed the progress recorded in the Transnistrian conflict settlement and priorities in continuing the negotiations in the 5+2 format, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

In the context, the premier said that the visit of the official to Chisinau was single possibility to consider the joint agenda for 2017 on holding the Transnistrian conflict settlement process. At the same time, Filip thanked the official for the efforts made in 2016 facilitating resumption of talks in the 5+2 format, after a two-year-break. “It is important that the confidence level between the sides has increased, several documents were signed and there are prerequisites favorable to continuing discussions”, he said.

At the same time, the premier said that 2017 would be more consistent in events in terms of negotiations on Transnistrian settlement, including by boosting the meetings in the 5+2 and 1+1 formats. "The time is ripe for initiating talks on political issues in “basket III” of the negotiation agenda, which we call small steps policy. Confidence-building measures must have as a purpose the Transnistrian problem settlement and reunification of the two banks of the Dniestre”, he concluded.

However, Sebastian Kurz noted he backed the approach of solving the Trasnsnistrian conflict meant to improve the citizens’ living conditions. “We will try to contribute to defusing unresolved conflicts, the OSCE’s central purpose is settling the Transnistrian conflict, taking into account the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova in correlation with a special status for the Transnistrian region”, he said.

Also, the officials referred to the bilateral relations between Moldova and Austria. In the context, the premier thanked the authorities from Vienna for the assistance provided in such sectors as: good governance, strengthening institutional capacities, vocational education and providing people with water. “There are already 50 enterprises with Austrian capital in Moldova. I invite other investors to follow this example. Moldova is ready for Austrian investments”, Filip said.

For his part, the Austrian official congratulated the Moldovan government for the reforms. “I am grateful for the good bilateral relations we have and I am sure that opening the Austrian embassy in Chisinau is an important step for stronger cooperation, including on economy”, he said.