High-level expert dialogue on the Transdniestrian settlement process in Austria

CMI continues to support the Transdniestrian settlement process through bringing together senior official and independent experts from the two sides of the conflict divide and from key international capitals. On 14-17 June, CMI’s standing high-level dialogue group convened in Austria for an intensive expert dialogue to elaborate a retrospective analysis of the Transdniestrian settlement process, and to analyse trends which may impact the process in the near future. The two-day dialogue held in the Vienna Woods was followed by discussions in Vienna with Permanent Representations to the OSCE, OSCE Secretariat representatives and the Austrian Foreign Ministry.

Members of CMI dialogue group in front of the OSCE Conference Centre at the Hofburg in Vienna

During the dialogue, the experts jointly analysed key political, economic and social trends with a potential to impact the conflict settlement and developed a retrospective analysis in thematic subgroups. High-level experts from Chisinau, Tiraspol, Brussels, Moscow and Washington D.C. used a customised CMI trend analysis tool to identify the factors influencing the future development of the settlement process.  

CMI facilitates the group’s dialogue in the Vienna Woods

The experts’ in-depth discussion continued in Vienna with the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, Permanent Representations to the OSCE and the Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The CMI group met representatives of the current Swiss OSCE Chairmanship from the Permanent Delegation of Switzerland: Ms Andrea Rauber Saxer, Deputy Head, and Mr Sven Gracin, Political Advisor. Meetings were also held with Ambassador Heidemaria Gürer, Head of Department at the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, and Ambassador Vuk Žugić from the Permanent Representation of Serbia to the OSCE. Lastly, the group met with representatives from the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre: Mr Claus Neukirch, Deputy Director for Operations, and Mr Stijn Schrooten, Team Leader for Moldova & Ukraine.

The experts meet with Ambassador Heidemaria Gürer, Head of Department, Eastern Europe, Western Balkans, South Caucasus and Central Asia, Central European Initiative, Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria

This high-level expert meeting continued CMI’s efforts to provide an ongoing and trusted dialogue platform for both sides of the Nistru/Dniestr river. The aim is to jointly identify and analyse current events, trends and forecasts related to the Transdniestrian settlement process, facilitate further relationship building, and support the development of joint analysis and recommendations for the peace process.