OSCE Head of Mission calls on the Sides to the Transdniestrian settlement to keep to the course of constructive interaction and confidence building

CHISINAU, 31 January 2019 – The Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Claus Neukirch, today expressed his concern that recent developments with regard to the village of Varnita and the opening of a Transdniestrian socio-cultural centre in Moscow could undermine the trust and confidence built over the past years in the Transdniestrian settlement process.

“As the OSCE mediator in the Transdniestrian settlement process, I call on both Sides to keep to the course of constructive interaction and confidence building and to refrain from any unilateral actions which could be perceived as provocative or would lead to tensions,” Neukirch said.

He underlined that the 57 OSCE participating States confirmed at the OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Milan last December once again their commitment to a comprehensive, peaceful and sustainable settlement of the Transdniestrian conflict based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders with a special status for Transdniestria that fully guarantees the human, political, economic and social rights of its population.

“It is equally clear that the village of Varnita is administered by the local authorities confirmed in the Moldovan local elections of June 2015,” the Head of Mission added.