OSCE: Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the "referendum" in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova

Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Permanent Council No. 626
21 September 2006

Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the "referendum" in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova

17 September 2006

The European Union would like to inform the Permanent Council of the Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the "referendum" in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova 17 September 2006. The Declaration reads as follows:

The European Union is aware that a "referendum" in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova has taken place on 17 September 2006. This "referendum" contradicts the internationally recognized sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova. The EU considers that the situation in Transnistria does not allow the free expression of popular will. The EU reiterates that it recognizes neither the "referendum" nor its outcome.

The European Union calls upon the mediators and observers in the OSCE-led 5+2 talks to make public statements to the same effect.

The European Union fully supports Moldova's territorial integrity and calls on both parties to the conflict to return immediately to the negotiating table in the 5+2 format and work towards a speedy and transparent solution of the Transnistria conflict.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine align themselves with this declaration.