High-level representatives from the Parliament of Moldova and the Supreme Soviet of Transnistria formalise collaboration to restore permanent dialogue

High-level representatives from the Parliament of Moldova and the Supreme Soviet of the breakaway region of Transnistria have agreed to formalise an informal dialogue process as part of which they have been meeting with each other regularly over the last year.

Established by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) in 2017, this dialogue process, known as the Geneva Framework, seeks to create prerequisites for the restoration of a permanent dialogue between the two institutions in support of the official negotiation process between Moldova and the Transnistrian region, led by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The Geneva Framework aims in particular to:

1. Support the development of a mechanism for involving the Moldovan Parliament and the Transnistrian Supreme Soviet in the implementation of agreements reached as part of the official OSCE negotiation process
2. Support the implementation of agreements reached in the formal negotiating process through legislative initiatives
3. Create the conditions for facilitating the official OSCE negotiation process as well as monitoring its progress, including through regular hearings, consultations, exchanges of information, joint meetings, conferences and seminars.

The conflict between the two sides has its origins in the decision of the eastern region of Moldova, known as Transnistria, to declare its de-facto separation from Moldova in 1990, amid regional geopolitical turmoil sparked by the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The conflict has remained frozen ever since.