MOLDOVAN PREMIER DISCUSSES TRANSNISTRIAN SETTLEMENT QUESTIONS ON MSC SIDELINES

On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference held this past weekend, Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip met with OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger and discussed questions pertaining to Transnistrian conflict settlement with him.

The OSCE, being an international mediator to the settlement process, is Moldova’s key partner in the conflict resolving work, stated Pavel Filip.

He reiterated Moldova’s firm commitment to achieving progress in realization of the Protocol Decisions signed between Chisinau and Tiraspol last November. Filip highlighted also other objectives set in the Decisions adopted in Berlin (2016) and in Vienna (2017).

“The Government of Moldova will be further insisting on the establishment of a special legal status for the Transnistrian region with a due respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova”, said Premier Filip.

He emphasized that Russia must fulfill its international commitments to withdraw its troops and ammunition from Transnistria. He underscored the important role played in this process by the OSCE.

The Prime Minister highly appreciated the OSCE’s assistance and consultancy rendered to Moldova in the spheres of human rights, law-governed state and civil society. In the light of the ordinary parliamentary election to be held in Moldova at the end of 2018, Pavel Filip underlined the importance of interaction with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR).

Thomas Greminger assured the Moldovan Premier of the OSCE’s full support to promoting the Transnistrian settlement process and welcomed all the stakeholders’ constructive participation in resolving problems for the good of the residents of both Dniester River sides.

During his meeting with Jan Hecker, the Foreign Policy Adviser to German Chancellor German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Prime Minister Filip spoke about the vital need to achieve further progress in the Transnistrian conflict settlement process. He thanked Berlin for its supporting the settlement process, including in 2016 when Germany chaired the OSCE. The parties exchanged opinions about the Moldova-Germany cooperation and realization of European reforms in Moldova.

Premier Filip expressed gratitude for the permanent political support rendered by Germany to Moldova on its European path. He said he is looking forward to the meeting of the Group for Moldova’s European Action to be held in Brussels on February 26.

Jan Hecker stated that Germany would be further supporting Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial Integrity, reform implementation, and actions to modernize and raise the efficiency of state institutions in Moldova.