VIENNA, March 4. /TASS/. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg, is set to visit Chisinau soon for talks on the Transnistrian conflict, the Maltese Foreign Ministry told TASS.

"Through its mission to Moldova and the special representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office, the OSCE will continue to work toward a comprehensive settlement of the conflict based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders and the special status of Transnistria within Moldova. The chairperson-in-office plans to visit Moldova in the near future, where he will work to build confidence and stability between the sides for the benefit of all people living on both banks of the Dniester River," the ministry said.

Earlier, a convention of lawmakers from all levels of government, which was held in Tiraspol on the initiative of Vadim Krasnoselsky, the president of the breakaway Transnistria region, asked Russia for help against pressure from Moldova, and also appealed to the international community to help with the resumption of comprehensive talks with Chisinau.

Relations between Chisinau and Tiraspol began to steadily deteriorate in 2020 after the election of Maia Sandu as Moldovan president and her harsh statements against Tiraspol. The situation was exacerbated at the start of this year after Moldova decided to levy duties on goods heading to Transnistria. After Ukraine closed the Transnistrian section of its border with Moldova in 2022, goods can only enter Transnistria through Chisinau-controlled territory. Tiraspol accused Chisinau of using Transnistria's vulnerable position.