Transnistrian sector priorities discussed with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office

Chisinau, 17 February /MOLDPRES/- Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Cebotari and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde, on a working visit to Moldova, held a meeting today at the government, the Office of Reintegration Policy has reported.

The dialogue focused on messages and views on issues related to bilateral cooperation, meeting joint commitments with the OSCE and the EU and the Transnistrian settlement process, reiterating the key elements of the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office, including contribution to the Transnistrian conflict settlement in line with the requirements of international law, support of Moldova's efforts in all dimensions etc.

The Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration noted that in 2021, the following goals are a priority on the Transnistrian segment:

1. Take all possible actions to ensure respect for human rights and remove all unjustified barriers to free movement to/ from localities in the Transnistrian region.

2. Carrying out operational measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic on both banks of the Dniester, with the support of international partners.

3. Return to the progress by March 2020 on the agreements in the Berlin plus package, further progress in this regard and solving other urgent issues in the interests of citizens.

4. Boosting activity in all negotiation formats and creating favorable ground for convening a new official round of the 5 + 2 format.

Also, the chief negotiator from Chisinau in the Transnistrian settlement process said that in the 5 + 2 negotiation format, the Moldovan side relies on an activity aimed at achieving concrete results and concomitant movement on all the baskets on the negotiating agenda (social and economic, humanitarian, political and institutional).

Given the precarious situation created in the region during the pandemic, ensuring the protection and restoration of fundamental human rights with the immediate and unconditional resumption of free movement between both banks of the Dniester remain key priorities to be promoted until their full completion.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office confirmed full readiness to actively contribute to the implementation of the priorities and to set out significant results to direct the processes to a new stage of advancement.

photo: Office of Reintegration Policy