The Ukrainian crisis has had a "disastrous effect" on the resolution of conflicts in the Transnistria and Transcaucasia regions, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Tuesday.
In his report to the UN Security Council members, the diplomat said that Europe is now faced with the most serious security challenges since the "cold war" times. "We should not ignore the devastating impact of the crisis in Ukraine and around it on other issues on the OSCE agenda, especially the protracted conflicts in Moldova and in the South Caucasus," Dacic said.
He expressed regret over the Transnistria conflict resolution process stalling in recent months in the 5+2 format (Moldova, Transnistria republic, the OSCE, Russia, Ukraine and observers from the US and the EU). According to him, the formation of a new government in Moldova will contribute to the resumption of the negotiations. "The first step should be restoration of regular formal meetings in the 5+2 format during the year. We need to muster the political will to get off the ground and make tangible progress. This will benefit the people on both sides of the Dniester."
He also expressed serious concern over the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, stating the aggravation of the situation in the region and slowing down of the political process. The OSCE chairman expressed support for the OSCE Minsk Group efforts in the organisation of high-level meetings and search for ways of the conflict’s long-term settlement.
Ukrainian crisis negatively affects `frozen`Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - OSCE head
25 February 2015
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