On 5 May, the OSCE Mission to Moldova hosted a meeting of the Economy Working Group experts from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River at its office in Chisinau. This was the first in-person meeting of Working Group experts in Chisinau since April 2022, representing a meaningful and positive step forward within the framework of the Transdniestrian settlement process.
The Acting Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Izabela Sylwia Hartmann, thanked the Sides for their pragmatic approach and flexibility, and encouraged them to further use the Mission's premises in Chisinau, Tiraspol and Bender for their face-to-face expert-level engagement. "I am convinced that in-person discussions foster deeper dialogue and help find mutually acceptable solutions to issues that matter to people" said the Acting Head of Mission in her opening remarks.
In a constructive exchange of views, held in the presence of mediators and observers, the participants discussed a range of topical issues related to taxation, customs, trade, import and export procedures, as well as other practical matters within the economic sphere.
In-person Working Group meetings provide an important opportunity for the Sides to regularly exchange information on ongoing developments and planned activities, while also serving as a valuable platform for preventing misunderstandings. The resumption of face-to-face discussions in Chisinau underscores the importance of sustained, direct engagement in advancing the settlement process.
