Head of OSCE Mission urges parties within Transnistrian settlement process to stick to constructive interaction course

Chisinau, 31 January /MOLDPRES/ – OSCE Mission to Moldova, Claus Neukirch, has expressed today concern that recent developments on village Varnita and the opening of a Transnistrian socio – cultural centre in Moscow could undermine the confidence built in recent years in the Transnistrian settlement process, with reference to a mission statement.

"As a mediator in the Transnistrian settlement process of the OSCE, I should like to urge both parties to take on the constructive and confidence – building course and refrain from any unilateral actions that may be perceived as provocative or that would leads to tension," said Neukirch.

He specified that the 57 participating OSCE States at the OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Milan in December 2018 once again confirmed their commitment to a comprehensive, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Transnistrian conflict based on sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders, with a special status for the Transnistrian region, fully guaranteeing the human, political, economic and social rights of its population.

"It is also clear that village Varnita is managed by the local authorities confirmed during the local Moldovan elections in June 2015", added the head of the Mission.

On 25 January 2019, the Tiraspol leader signed a so – called decision that says that village Varnita is temporarily under the control of Moldova.