Cablegate: Osce Permanent Council: Statement On Moldova

VZCZCXRO3867
PP RUEHAST RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHC #7859 3101752
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 051742Z NOV 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 5183
INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS STATE 117859

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PREL PGOV MO
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON MOLDOVA

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We regret Transnistrian authorities' decision to deny
President Voronin access to his home town of Corjova, in the
Transnistrian region of Moldova.

Incidents like this have the potential to undermine the
environment for interactions between officials in Chisinau
and Tiraspol, and show how easily a positive atmosphere can
be spoiled. We are reminded again that the path to
negotiations and a lasting resolution will not be easy.

Despite this, we look forward to the November 7-8 roundtable
in Odessa and to the November 20-21 talks among the 3 plus 2
mediators and observers in Vienna. It is our hope that these
events will clear the way for formal talks in the 5 plus 2
format, and that all parties soon will return to the
negotiating table to discuss the core issues of the conflict,
including the definition of Transnistria's status within
Moldova and the withdrawal of Russian forces from Moldova's
territory. A settlement respecting Moldova's independence,
sovereignty, and territorial integrity must be the goal of
all our efforts.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
RICE

© Scoop Media