CHISINAU, 20 January 2010 -- The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Parliamentary Team on Moldova paid a visit to Chisinau and Tiraspol 18-20 January 2010. The Delegation, which included Canan Kalsin (Turkey), was led by Walburga Habsburg Douglas (Sweden).

The Delegation met with the Speaker of Parliament and Acting President of Moldova, Mihai Ghimpu, the Prime Minister Vlad Filat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Iurie Leanca, the newly appointed Delegation of Moldova the OSCE PA - which includes a wide range of political forces in the country, other leaders of political parties, negotiators on both sides of the Nistru river, and the international community in Chisinau. The OSCE Parliamentary Team worked closely with the OSCE Mission to Moldova on the visit.

In their meetings, the Team expressed hope of continued good participation and cooperation with the Parliament of Moldova, and possible opportunities for cooperation with representatives from Chisinau and Tiraspol through the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. In meetings with the Supreme Soviet in Tiraspol, Ms. Habsburg Douglas highlighted the need for legislators to resolve their difference through dialogue.

“We are here to lend support to the important work done by the OSCE Mission to Moldova, and to find ways to build contacts between Chisinau and Tiraspol at the parliamentary level” Ms. Habsburg Douglas said. “We hope that the OSCE will continue to be a forum for an inclusive approach to the Transnistrian conflict settlement issue.”

The Parliamentary Team on Moldova was established in early 2000. The Team's mandate calls on it to promote peace, stability and the rule of law in Moldova, while affirming the unity of the State, by engaging in and promoting dialogue between parties and organizations representing different sections of the Moldovan population. Resolving the status of Transnistria is a particular priority of the Parliamentary Team. The Team includes parliamentarians from Sweden, Turkey, Italy and Canada.