As delivered by Acting Political Counselor Jenifer Bosworth
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
June 12, 2014
The United States takes note of the second round of 5+2 Talks on the Transnistrian Conflict this year, which took place in Vienna on June 5 and 6. We encourage both sides to make tangible progress before the next meeting planned for July 17 and 18.
We see an urgent need – and an opportunity – for progress on the operation of Latin-script schools on the left bank of the Dniestr/Nistru River. Children’s education should not be hostage to political rivalry. Indeed, it is time to begin serious discussions toward an agreement on the operation of these schools that is mutually beneficial to all stakeholders, in particular the pupils and their families.
We support the efforts of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter, his Special Representative for the Transnistrian Settlement Process, Radajko Bogojevic of Serbia, and the OSCE Mission to Moldova in their work to facilitate progress in the settlement process. We note that the restrictions placed on the Mission to Moldova continue to undermine its ability to implement its mandate and undermine the ability of members of the OSCE to assess the security situation on the ground. The United States encourages all those concerned to remove these restrictions and allow the Mission to resume all activities provided for in its mandate.
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 a special status for Transnistria.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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