More than 30 high-level OSCE diplomats to visit Moldova

A group of high-ranking OSCE diplomats will visit Moldova from 10 to 13 November. The group comprises more than 30 Heads of Delegations to the OSCE, including the Ambassadors of the Belgian OSCE Chairmanship, the Finnish European Union Presidency, the Russian Federation and the United States. They will come on the invitation of the Moldovan Foreign Ministry. The OSCE Mission to Moldova will be coordinating the visit. The trip will give them an opportunity to gather first-hand information on the situation in Moldova, and especially on issues connected to the Transnistrian problem. The diplomats will meet Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, Speaker of Parliament Marian Lupu, Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan, Minister for Reintegration Vasile Sova and Minister of Transport Miron Gagauz, as well as representatives of all parliamentary factions. Additionally, the OSCE Mission will host meetings with representatives of non-governmental organizations. A meeting with the leadership of the Transnistrian region is also arranged for. On November 12, the members of the Joint Military Command will brief the OSCE Ambassadors on the work of the trilateral Peacekeeping Forces. A fact-finding tour through the security zone and a meeting with the Head of the EU Border Assistance Mission, General Ferenc Banfi, will also take place. The last visit of OSCE Ambassadors took place in June 2004.