OSCE Special Representative on Transdniestrian settlement underscores need for frequent contacts between Chisinau and Tiraspol

CHISINAU, 30 October 2014 - The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process Ambassador Radojko Bogojević today concluded his visit to Moldova in which he underscored the importance of frequent and substantive direct contacts between Chisinau and Tiraspol.

During his four-day visit, Bogojević met in Chisinau with Valeriu Chiveri, the Moldovan Acting Chief Negotiator, and in Tiraspol with Nina Shtanski, the Transdniestrian Chief Negotiator. He also met with the OSCE participating States’ representatives residing in Moldova.

“I welcome the agreement of both sides to meet on a weekly basis after the elections in Moldova, so that we can move forward in the settlement negotiations,” said Bogojević.

Bogojević was joined in his meetings by Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Ambassador Michael Scanlan and both expressed hope that a date for the next round of 5+2 meetings on the Transdniestrian settlement will be scheduled for early 2015.

During Bogojević’s visit to the Latin-script school in Rybnitsa, he welcomed the considerable progress made by both sides toward reaching a consensus on the rental payments and functioning of Moldovan-administered Latin-script schools in Transdniestria.

Bogojević also visited the site of an obsolete and dangerous industrial cable car network spanning the Dniester/Nistru River which has now been largely dismantled thanks to the Russian Federation’s Mi-26 heavy lift helicopter, Moldovan and Russian emergency service specialists and co-operation from Transdniestria and financial assistance from the European Union.

“A common safety threat to the inhabitants on the river banks was resolved through co-operative work,” said Bogojević. “The progress made on dismantling the cable car and on the issue of the Moldovan-administered Latin-script schools are positive examples for both sides on how co-operation and compromise can provide for a common greater good for people on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River.”

Bogojević and Scanlan reiterated the readiness of the OSCE Chairmanship and the Mission to continue to provide support to the negotiating process.

The 5+2 talks bring together representatives of the sides, as well as of the mediators and observers – Moldova, Transdniestria, the OSCE, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the US and the EU.