As delivered by Ambassador Ian Kelly
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
May 2, 2013
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The United States notes with concern the incidents in the Security Zone in Moldova in which four checkpoints were unilaterally set up without notice on April 26, 2013. Such actions reduce trust and have a negative impact on the settlement process. We are pleased that the checkpoints were quickly removed and that the Joint Control Commission facilitated an agreement between the sides.
The United States calls on both sides to refrain from unilateral steps that create tensions and that could destabilize the situation. We further call on both sides to adhere to earlier agreements facilitating freedom of movement and to make further progress in this respect.
We support the efforts of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, and the Chairmanship’s Special Representative for Protracted Conflicts, Ambassador Andrii Deshchystia, and the OSCE Mission to Moldova in their work to facilitate progress in the settlement process. We look forward to the next round of “5+2” talks in Odessa from May 23 to 24, and hope concrete progress can be made. The United States strongly supports efforts to promote a peaceful settlement of the Transnistria conflict—one that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova and provides an agreed status for Transnistria.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
