OSCE Special Envoy to hold talks with leaders in Moldova as part of Transdniestrian settlement
Press release 257/2008
21 July, 2008
OSCE Special Envoy to hold talks with leaders in Moldova as part of Transdniestrian settlement
The Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Heikki Talvitie, is in Moldova today to hold talks with President Vladimir Voronin. A meeting with Transdniestrian leader Igor Smirnov has been requested.
The other two co-mediators - the Russian Federation and Ukraine - in the settlement process will participate in the talks along with the European Union and the United States, both of which have observer status.
"We plan to put at the disposal of the sides the full potential of the 3+2 format," Talvitie said. "My counterparts and I, as well as the OSCE Mission to Moldova, will help and support confidence- and trust-building initiatives. This remains the only sustainable solution towards building genuine and productive dialogue."
The 21-23 July visit of the permanent representatives of the 3+2 format is set to include visits to both Chisinau and Tiraspol. It aims to enhance confidence and trust between the sides.
"We will reiterate our support for matters that benefit and interest both sides. The Finnish Chairmanship will continue to work for a Transdniestrian settlement," Talvitie said.
Additional information: First Secretary Mikko Kivikoski, Permanent Mission of Finland to the OSCE, tel. + 43 664 851 5536, and Counsellor Päivi Peltokoski, Finnish OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, tel. +358 40 578 6096, http://www.osce.org/moldova/