Malta’s Chairpersonship of the OSCE strongly supports a peaceful and comprehensive resolution of the Transdniestrian conflict and will continue supporting Chisinau and Tiraspol’s search for practical solutions for all communities.
On Friday, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade and OSCE Chair-in-Office Ian Borg visited Moldova, where he met key officials, including President Maia Sandu and Transdniestrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky, to discuss the pivotal role of the OSCE in the Transdniestrian Settlement Process.
Minister Borg also held talks with Moldova Prime Minister Dorin Recean and Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mihai Popsoi.
Friday’s meetings in Moldova formed part of an intensive three-day programme for the OSCE Maltese Presidency, following visits to Serbia and Kosovo on Wednesday and Thursday, with more than 30 engagements with authorities, OSCE partners, local leaders as well as civil society and religious organisations.
This year, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is marking three decades of support to Moldova. “The OSCE Mission to Moldova has built a trusted partnership with authorities, political leaders and civil society organisations, and is committed to continue providing its experience and expertise,” Minister Borg said.
“As we affirmed during meetings in Chișinău and Bender, we greatly appreciate the fact that all sides have constantly reiterated their commitment to resolving all open issues, as well as the conflict as such in an exclusively peaceful manner and the Maltese Chairpersonship strongly supports constructive communication channels to remain open to all stakeholders, to keep the settlement process on track.”
“Through its Mission to Moldova and my Special Representative of the Chair-in-Office, the OSCE will continue to work towards a peaceful, comprehensive, and lasting settlement based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders with a special status for Transdniestria within Moldova,” Minister Borg concluded.
In Chisinau, the OSCE Malta Presidency delegation also met Special Representative on Gender, Liliana Palihovici, to discuss the important role the OSCE Mission in Moldova in promoting human rights and gender equality.
Malta began its 12-month Chairmanship of the OSCE in January, under the theme “Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Security”, after it was selected to head this organisation for the first time in its history, in November 2023.
Photos: MFET
