Meeting with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office

OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ian Borg arrived in Pridnestrovie. The diplomat has been heading the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Malta since 2022. This country is presiding over the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe this year.

This is his first visit to Pridnestrovie. The President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Vadim Krasnoselsky met with the delegation. The meeting took place in Bendery in the conference hall of the Old Bastion complex, located on the territory of the Alexander Nevsky Park at the Bendery Fortress, according to the presidential press-service. The Supreme Council Chairman Alexander Korshunov took part in it.

Among those accompanying the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malta are European diplomats who are well acquainted with the situation in Pridnestrovie and the state of the negotiation process – the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Kelly Keiderling, and the Special Representative of the Chairman-in-Office for the Pridnestrovian settlement process Thomas Mayr-Harting.

Vadim Krasnoselsky and Ian Borg focused on the role of the OSCE in the negotiation process and the organization’s availability of appropriate tools

“The negotiation process between Pridnestrovie and Moldova is slow to put it mildly, and properly speaking it is completely absent. I see a special role for the OSCE Mission in this regard, which is capable of creating a platform for peaceful dialogue. There are a lot of problems that need to be resolved. This concerns the foreign economic activity of Pridnestrovie, this concerns the work of our enterprises, this concerns bank accounts. In addition, the OSCE Mission in my opinion is competent to ask the parties about the fulfillment of previously reached agreements, about the fulfillment obstacles – technical reasons or malice aforethought, and to assist in ensuring that they are fulfilled by the parties, of course. Previously reached agreements are not an empty sound. There are destinies of people under any signature. The lives of people, both in Pridnestrovie and in Moldova, directly depend on the solution to these issues. Keeping peace is fundamental. I see the OSCE as an ally in this. You have enough mechanisms to contribute in this goal reaching”, Vadim Krasnoselsky expressed confidence.

“I consider that the OSCE has a very important role in the negotiation process and has a robust mandate to contribute to the Pridnestrovian conflict settlement. I appreciate your efforts in maintaining peace,” noted the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. Ian Borg emphasized that he is interested in knowing the positions of both sides. “The OSCE enjoys the trust of both sides. It is very important for us not to give up and try to bring solutions to existing problems closer”.