Statement on the 5+2 Transnistrian Settlement Process
As delivered by Political Counselor Gregory Macris
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
June 14, 2018
The United States joins others today in welcoming substantive progress in the Transnistrian Settlement Process, endorsed at the recent round of 5+2 talks held in Rome May 29-30. As an observer to the process, the United States wholeheartedly supports the goal of achieving a comprehensive, peaceful, and sustainable settlement of the conflict based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova with a special status for Transnistria within Moldova’s internationally-recognized borders.
The sides took a courageous step in 2016, when they agreed on a package of eight practical measures to build confidence and advance the settlement process. In addition to five of those measures – apostilization of Transnistria diplomas by Moldova, telecommunications, the resumption of Moldovan-administered Latin script schools, Dubasari farmland access, and reopening of the Gura Biculiu Bychok bridge – agreed on in November 2017, the sides at the Rome round of talks agreed on an additional measure to allow vehicles with license plates originating in Transnistria to join international traffic. We encourage participating States to assist the Mission to Moldova in supporting the sides in implementation of this agreement through financial contributions to its extra-budgetary projects.
The settlement talks and negotiations on practical measures are not always easy and implementation of these measures is not always straightforward; therefore, it is imperative for the sides to focus on solution-oriented goals. The United States calls on the sides to compromise and reaffirm previous commitments taken in Vienna and Berlin to find a solution to criminal cases and freedom of movement issues.
The United States reaffirms its support and appreciation to the Italian Chairmanship and its Special Representative, as well as to the OSCE Mission to Moldova, for their unwavering support to the sides. Their efforts enabled the sides to engage in results-oriented dialogue and formal negotiations in the 5+2 format.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
