Political impetus needed to achieve progress on confidence-building between Chisinau and Tiraspol, says OSCE Special Envoy
Tiedote 263/2008
23.7.2008
Talvitie concluded two days of meetings with authorities on both sides as well as mediators and observers in the "3+2 format" today.
On Tuesday, the 3+2 representatives - which include the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the OSCE as mediators and the European Union and the United States as observers - met in Chisinau with Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and in Tiraspol with the deputy leader of Transdniestria, Alexander Korolyev.
"Your political impetus will be the key to the success of the working groups tasked to elaborate confidence-building measures," Talvitie told the respective leaders.
In the Tiraspol office of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, the representatives and the co-chairs of joint expert groups involved in the settlement process discussed the prospects for confidence-building measures in the areas of ecology, transport, infrastructure, health and social issues.
"We encouraged the joint expert groups to intensify their work," Talvitie said.
Today, the participants of the 5+2 format, comprising the mediators and observers as well as the chief negotiators of the Republic of Moldova and Transdniestria, exchanged views on confidence-building measures during a boat cruise on the Dniestr/Nistru River.
Talvitie said he was optimistic that the negotiations would continue with renewed intensity.
"We welcome all moves towards the political resolution of the conflict. We greatly appreciate the offer of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ogryzko to host a meeting in the 5+2 format in Odessa in the near future," he said.
More information: Mikko Kivikoski, First Secretary, Finland's Permanent Mission to the OSCE, tel. +43 664 851 5536; Päivi Peltokoski, Counsellor, Finnish OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, tel. +358 40 578 6096