The Secretary-General of the  Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Thomas Greminger, is set to visit Moldova from 17 to 19 September. He will take part in talks with high-level officials in Chișinău and the self-proclaimed political leadership of the Transnistrian breakaway region.  

In what will be his first visit to Moldova as OSCE Secretary-General, Thomas Greminger will participate in negotiations aimed at advancing the Transnistrian Settlement Process. This will take place within the principles endorsed by all 57 participating States at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Milan in December 2018. 

The negotiations on the Transnistrian Settlement were resumed on September 10. The OSCE Mission in Moldova hosted a meeting in its Tiraspol office between the Chief Negotiators from Chișinău and Tiraspol, Vasilii Șova and Vitaly Ignatiev, discussing issues pertaining to banking, freedom of movement, telecommunications, and road and railroad transport.

• Negotiations in the 5 + 2 Format on the Transnistrian Settlement will be Resumed in Autumn this Year

During his visit to Chișinău Greminger will also discuss the role the OSCE can play in ensuring transparency in the removal and destruction of Russian ammunition and armaments and in the coordination of financial and technical assistance offered to facilitate their withdrawal and destruction. 

Previously, Prime Minister Maia Sandu and President Igor Dodon also discussed the issue of OSCE’s role in ensuring transparency in the process of neutralizing the ammunition in Cobasna and advancing the process of Transnistrian regulation with the head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Claus Neukirch.

The OSCE Secretary-General will also discuss potential areas of OSCE engagement to support Moldova’s reform agenda.

According to the OSCE Mission in Moldova press release, the OSCE Secretary-General will hold a press briefing at the official delegations hall of the Chișinău International Airport, on September 19.