Moldovan acting deputy PM has dialogue with OSCE chairperson-in-office

Chisinau, 14 February /MOLDPRES/ - Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian today had a meeting with the chairperson-in-office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Foreign Affairs Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani. The official is accompanied by Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transnistrian Settlement Process Thomas Mayr-Harting and Head of the OSCE Mission in Moldova Kelly Keiderling, the Reintegration Policies Bureau has reported.         

Deputy PM Oleg Serebrian informed about the present situation in the Transnistrian region and in the process of negotiations, Chisinau’s approaches in the settlement of the difficulties faced by the residents on the two banks of Dniester. He evoked the support for the common priority of Chisinau and OSCE – maintaining the regional and European security and stability. Serebrian reiterated the message on the impossibility to summon a new meeting of the 5+2 format of talks, given Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, as well as the maintaining, at the same time, of the dialogue in the formats of the political representatives (9 meetings took place in 2022, the next one is planned for 17 February) and of the sectoral working groups (17 working meetings in 2022, 2 ones since early this year). The Moldovan official stressed that the negotiations’ goal should be directed towards achieving the desideratum of Moldova’s full reintegration.     

Oleg Serebrian highlighted that, following the getting by Moldova of the status of country candidate for accession to the European Union and fostering of the multi-sectoral cooperation with the EU member states, it was necessary to create a synergy between the European integration process and the one of Transnistrian settlement.    

Special attention was paid to the alarming situation as to the infringement of the human rights in the Transnistrian region, which continues worsening, given the persecutions and abuses by Tiraspol on multiple individual cases, such as the ones of V. Pleshkanov. C. Arion. Serebrian expressed the need to cease these violations, re-establish the fundamental rights, including the ones to free expression and free movement.     

The Moldovan deputy PM expressed concern about the issue of access to the farmlands for farmers from the eastern Dubasari district and the need to remove the unilateral conditions imposed by Tiraspol. Oleg Serebrian repeatedly emphasized that Tiraspol misled the foreign partners as to the subject of import of medicines, food and phyto-sanitary products. The deputy prime minister noted that the products were delivered to the region in the quantities necessary and with the observance of the import and export rigours prescribed by the national legislation in force.       

Oleg Serebrian reiterated the Moldovan authorities’ firm commitment to promote the peaceful and political settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, within the parameters of the unitary and fully functional state Republic of Moldova. The first step to advance in this direction represents the withdrawal of the illegally deployed Russian troops and ammunitions/military equipment from the country’s territory.    

As for the amendments made to Moldova’s Criminal Code concerning the regulation of the separatism phenomenon, Serebrian specified that these provisions had no connection with the process of negotiations, due to continue. Serebrian also said that such offences were contained in the legislation of more countries of Europe as measures of protection and prevention of jeopardizing the state security, the countries’ territorial integrity and sovereignty.     

Oleg Serebrian underlined the full openness to maintain a constructive cooperation, with the maintenance of the active communication channels.

Photo: Reintegration Policies Bureau