Thank you, Madame Chairperson.

Thank you for your update on the status of the OSCE’s efforts to mediate a political settlement to the conflict in Moldova, and also to facilitate the withdrawal of Russian forces and equipment as agreed to at Istanbul.

Like France and the EU colleagues that he represents, we were dismayed to hear that the leadership in Tiraspol reversed its decision to participate in the scheduled talks in Baden.

We hope that your Minister, that the Head of our mission in Moldova, and that the Russian and Ukrainian mediators will all urge the Transnistrians to reconsider that decision.

We note that despite the current political situation in Moldova, both the government and the parliament have clearly said they support the peace process and have clearly empowered their negotiating team at these scheduled talks.

For Transnistria to assert that the Moldovan political situation is an excuse to delay this round of talks is indeed a contrivance.

We urge both the Moldovan and Transnistrian parties and all three mediators to come together for discussions now and advance progress towards a more permanent settlement.

We are, at the same time, also disappointed that the Russian government has not yet been able to schedule a date for discussion of concrete steps to be undertaken, with the assistance of the OSCE, and a number of OSCE states, toward Russia’s fulfillment of its Istanbul commitments with respect to withdrawal from Moldova.

We believe that Russia has a central role to play in facilitating a peaceful, durable resolution to the conflict. We urge Russia, in particular, to use its influence in Tiraspol to urge the Transnistrians to proceed with the Baden talks. And we hope that Russia will act rapidly and constructively to help promote a political resolution to this conflict and to begin the weapons and troop withdrawals it committed itself to at Istanbul.

Thank you.