[Analysis by Per Enerud of the series “20 years of the start of the war. When should we expect peace?”, for Info-Prim Neo] The fact that the cease-fire agreement from July 1992 has lasted is not a minor achievement. The conflict has not been resolved, but the horrors of war and violence have been avoided. As a mediator, the OSCE has been able to provide a forum where the parties can meet and address and solve current issues and this has helped avoid a return to violence. The Mission to Moldova started its work in April 1993 – more than a year after the outbreak of armed violence. However, the OSCE, or rather its predecessor, the CSCE, had started monitoring the conflict somewhat earlier. After the cease-fire agreement in July 1992, the CSCE began analysing the situation in order to identify possible ways to resolve it. In February 1993 the CSCS gave the Mission a mandate to: “facilitate a lasting political settlement of the conflict, consolidating the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova along with an understanding about a special status for the Transdniestrian region”. This mandate remains in force. Together with our partners from Russia and Ukraine, and the observers from the Unites States and the European Union, the OSCE has long worked with the Sides within the negotiation process. Last year, with the help of the mediators and observers, the Sides agreed to resume talks in the ‘5+2’ format after a six year hiatus. The talks in Vilnius at the end of last year and the recent talks in Dublin show progress in the negotiations. We see the continued commitments of the Sides to refrain from violence and to address all issues at the negotiation table. The OSCE is also represented on the Joint Control Commission (JCC), the body that oversees the situation in the Security Zone. Apart from its formal functions, the JCC, which also includes representatives from the Russian Federation and Ukraine, provides direct access between the Sides which helps deal with emergent issues. The overall ambition of the Mission has been to combine talks and negotiations with performing concrete work on the ground. The OSCE has provided expertise, prepared documents and recommendations, supplied information on best practices, conducted conferences and set up meeting facilities and promoted Confidence Building Measures. In the end though, it is the Sides themselves who need to settle their differences and accept a fair and just solution to benefit the people on both sides of the Dniester/Nistru. The OSCE does not possess executive powers. It is not a police or a military organisation and cannot compel anyone to act on its instructions or recommendations. Of course it is easy to understand that some might want to see the OSCE as an ally, but the OSCE is a mediator, and not a party to the conflict. The OSCE Mission to Moldova will continue to use its best efforts to facilitate a settlement of the conflict in all its aspects. It recognises the suffering which the conflict has caused and would like to reiterate its expressions of sympathy for all the victims of the conflict and their families and call again for reconciliation. [ Per Enerud, Mission Spokesperson OSCE Mission to Moldova]