The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has called upon all sides concerned, particularly the Moldovan Parliament and Government, as well as the Transnistrian authorities and supreme soviet [parliament], the Governments of Russia and Ukraine to resume, with the OSCE's assistance, the negotiations in order to achieve a lasting solution of the problem related to status for Transnistria. This call has been included into the draft Resolution on Moldova prepared to the OSCE PA Annual Session to be held on July 1-5 in Washington DC.

An OSCE PA delegation visited Chisinau and Tiraspol last week and familiarized the conflicting sides with the draft that is called to facilitate the Transnistrian settlement. The document expressed concern over a high rate of mistrust existing between the Chisinau and Tiraspol authorities due to each other's unilateral measures that only deteriorate settlement perspectives.

The document authors think that the unsuccessful searching for a solution to the Transnistrian status problem seriously undermines economic and social progress in Moldova and its integration into European structures.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stated preparedness to back the Chisinau-Tiraspol dialog through rendering to the two legislatures assistance in resuming their contacts. The Resolution drafters believe that the recent initiatives by the President and Government of Ukraine may become an impulse to the negotiation process.

The OSCE PA has called upon the Transnistrian authorities to take necessary measures to stipulate the further development of political parties, non-governmental organizations, the mass media and other democratic institutions in the Transnistrian region.

The Assembly also urged the government of Ukraine to immediately begin realization of its announced intention to organize a better control over the Ukrainian side of the Moldo-Ukrainian border and to start solving the problems of organized crime, corruption and illegal commerce in that region.

The OSCE parliamentarians intend to take into account the preparedness of the European Union and the United States to energetically join the Transnistrian settlement efforts, and hope the participation of all interested international subjects will enable reaching a lasting, comprehensive settlement of the Transnistria problem.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly expressed concern over the insignificant progress achieved by Russia in meeting its 1999 OSCE Istanbul Summit on withdrawal of troops, arms and ammunition from the Moldovan territory.