Swedish OSCE chairmanship to provide political support for Transnistrian conflict settlement

Chisinau, 17 February /MOLDPRES/ - The Swedish OSCE chairmanship has as priorities the protection of the European order and security, including the state’s right to territorial integrity and right to independently establish its security policy. In this respect, the OSCE mission from Moldova remains to be vital in the final settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.    

At a news briefing held after an official visit to Moldova this evening, OSCE Chairwoman-in-Office, Foreign Affairs Minister of Sweden Ann Linde said that the OSCE mission in Moldova remained vital in the final settlement of the Transnistrian conflict. ‘’During the visit, I received clear-cut messages of support of the Transnistrian settlement process. There are still a string of challenges, which can be overcome through applying the policy of small steps, which are to enhance the confidence between the two sides,’’ the Swedish official said.    

At the same time, Linde noted that, at meetings, she had tackled concrete measures of strengthening trust, which will contribute to the advancement of the Transnistrian conflict settlement in all its stages. ‘’The settlement of the Transnistrian conflict will be carried out according to the principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova and with a special status for the Transnistrian region within the internationally recognized borders of the Moldovan state,’’ the foreign affairs minister of Sweden said.

Ann Linde also said that the Swedish OSCE chairmanship would continue backing the Transnistrian conflict settlement process in the 5+2 format and the citizens’ right to free movement across the Dniester river and would provide political support for the fulfillment of these desiderata.  

OSCE Chairwoman-in-Office, Foreign Affairs Minister of Sweden Ann Linde  today paid a visit to Moldova. The Swedish official held discussions with President Maia Sandu, acting Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Olga Cebotari. Also, Ann Linde met the Transnistrian region’s leader, Vadim Krasnoselsky and the political representative, Vitaly Ignatyev, in Bender.