Special Representative of OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office pays working visit to Moldova

Chisinau, 17 June /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, chief negotiator in the process of settlement of the Transnistrian conflict Cristina Lesnic today had a meeting with Special OSCE Representative Thomas Mayr Harting, the Reintegration Policies Bureau has reported.   

The discussions held between the two officials were focused on collecting facts about the situation on the Berlin Plus Package, challenges of the pandemic situation dynamic and quality of the Chisinau-Tiraspol dialogue, human rights, situation as regards the security and the law order.

Cristina Lesnic thanked the special representative for his visit to Chisinau and the permanent contact during the pandemic. She expressed feeling of solidarity for all countries hit by the new-type coronavirus.

At the same time, the deputy PM reiterated the current situation as concerns the worsening of the situation in the Security Zone as to the setting of illegal posts by Tiraspol during the pandemic situation, in the context of the Transnistrian region’s self-isolation. These actions abusively restrict the free movement. Lesnic expressed concern about the new rules imposed by Tiraspol as regards the entrance and exit of the region, which is imposed by the de facto structures of the region and is extended till 30 September 2020.     

Those 37 posts set unilaterally and illegally by the Transnistrian side obstructs the security in the region and people are bothered by the fact that, in the conditions of the pandemic, they cannot actually move to work, home or benefit from access to medical services at the health centres they belong to.   

At the meeting, the officials tackled the subject on telecommunications, return of the building of the Evrika lyceum, forced recruiting in the para-military structures from the Transnistrian region, individual cases for human rights’ protection, farmers’ access to their lands up to the Camenca-Tiraspol highway, which belong to the owners and economic agents with residence on the Cocieri plateau. The sides also exchanged information and data.

A special subject regarded also the recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), elaborated following a technical visit to the Transnistrian region and the need to ensure dialogue between physicians. The official said that the accommodation of physicians in settlements from the right bank of Dniester from donors’ funds was a temporary solution and was welcome at that stage.  

The deputy prime minister emphasized her expectations from this visit as regards the free movement in observed epidemiological conditions, lift of illegal posts which create artificial obstacles, observance of human rights.

Also, the sides approached other subjects and solutions which can be identified for the rapprochement between the two banks of Dniester.

The officials agreed on ensuring a permanent dialogue in continuation, in order to ensure an efficient communication.  

Thomas Mayr Harting is on his third visit to Moldova during the Albanian OSCE chairmanship.