OSCE diplomats visit Russian military depot in Transdniestria
CHISINAU, 13 November 2006 - A group of more than 30 Ambassadors, Heads of Delegations to the OSCE, visited a Russian ammunition depot in Moldova's breakaway Transdniestrian region today.
The visit was welcomed by the Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht.
It was the first time since March 2004 that OSCE officials gained access to the Kolbasna site. The gesture was appreciated by the Chairman-in-Office as an important confidence-building measure.
"Further initiatives should be built on this until the complete withdrawal of all ammunition, as provided for by the 1999 Istanbul commitments," said Minister De Gucht.
The visit was the last part of the diplomats' 10-13 November fact-finding tour to Moldova, organized on the invitation of the Moldovan Foreign Ministry. The OSCE Mission to Moldova co-ordinated the visit.
In Chisinau, the OSCE diplomats met President Vladimir Voronin, Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, Speaker of Parliament Marian Lupu, Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan, Minister of Transport Miron Gagauz and Deputy Minister for Reintegration Ion Stavila, as well as leaders of all parliamentary factions and NGO representatives.
During the meetings, the diplomats discussed among other matters the pace of political and economic reforms, the prospects for a Transdniestrian settlement, the situation on the Moldovan-Ukrainian border and the latest developments with regard to the rule of law.
In Tiraspol, the OSCE diplomats met Transdniestrian leader Igor Smirnov, and Supreme Soviet Speaker Evgeny Shevchuk, as well as with representatives of major Transdniestrian enterprises.
During the trip, the diplomats also had a chance to gather first-hand information on Moldovan schools in the Transdniestrian region, the situation in the security zone and the work of the peacekeeping forces.
The Head of the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM), General Ferenc Banfi, briefed the OSCE Ambassadors on this operation. The Ambassadors stressed the importance, usefulness and business-friendliness of its continued work.
Speaking at a news conference in Chisinau today, the Ambassadors emphasized the need to find a solution to the Transdniestrian problem that would respect the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, while at the same time provide for a special status for the Transdniestrian region.