Moldovan foreign minister tackles Transnistria-related problems, fighting hybrid threats in Helsinki

Chisinau, 13 March /MOLDPRES/ – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Galbur, who is paying a working visit to Helsinki, had a meeting with ex – President of Finland, founder and present Chairman of the Board of Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), Martti Ahtisaari, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry’s information and media communication service has reported.

Martti Ahtisaari, winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace, founded CMI in 2000, as a Finnish independent organization which work focuses on prevention and resolution of violent conflicts through informal dialogue and mediation, being one of the top leaders in this sphere.

The main topic addressed by speakers was the frozen conflict in Transnistria and Moldova's priorities in 5+2 format negotiations.

Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Galbur said that the Chisinau authorities called for creation of enabling conditions for trade with the European Union for business in Transnistria. "For us, it is important that the Agreement of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area ( DCFTA ) that we have with EU to work on throughout the country and all citizens to benefit from it. In negotiations, we have reiterated this position and it has to be promoted this year," said the head of the Moldovan diplomacy.

As to perspectives, the Foreign Minister stressed on Chisinau’s option for finding a sustainable solution to the Transnistrian region by granting a special status within Moldova, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova.

Meanwhile, Moldovan authorities will require further withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria and transforming the current peacekeeping mechanism into a civilian mission under the international mandate.

In this context, Martti Ahtisaari emphasized the positive resolution of full support for the priorities set by increasing trust among participants in talks. Also, former Finnish President said that CMI was ready to assist further on in the process of Transnistrian settlement.

In the same mode, the sides highlighted the impact of unsolved military conflicts on international relations and tackled the latest developments in security, both at global and regional scales.

Also today, Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Galbur and Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze had a joint meeting with Secretary of State of Finland for European Affairs, Jori Arvonen, in which it was approached cooperation with the European Centre of Excellence for Combating hybrid threats, which has to be opened in Helsinki.