Head of OSCE Mission to Moldova welcomes commitment by leaderships of both Sides to continue constructive dialogue, underpinned by concrete steps

CHISINAU, 13 May 2019 – The Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Claus Neukirch, today welcomed the decision of the Transdniestrian leadership to retract decree No.18 related to the village of Varnita.

“I welcome this decision, which will allow the Sides to maintain the trust and confidence built over the past years in the settlement process. The Varnita case should be made an example of good co-operation and freedom of movement for the benefit of the population,” Neukirch said. “A constructive discussion on various issues related to the treatment of inhabitants in this Chisinau-controlled village who have strong links to Transdniestria would be highly beneficial for the advancement of the settlement process.”

He underlined that the OSCE’s 57 participating States, at the OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Milan last December, had once again confirmed 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 of paramount importance for the Sides to stay on the course of pragmatic solutions and constructive interaction as has been recently demonstrated also by the Moldovan Side in the case of Moldova Steel Works in Transdniestria (MMZ),” Neukirch added.