Chisinau. 9th May. INTERFAX - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who arrived in Moldova on a visit, called for the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and the beginning of a dialogue in accordance with international law.
"Dialogue and cooperation based on mutual respect are the foundation of security in Europe and around the world. (...) We need a dialogue to discuss agreements in accordance with the norms of international law and the UN Charter. I call on regional partners to support this process in the interests of stability," Guterres said in Chisinau at a joint press conference with Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilica.
He promised to provide all support in order to put an end to the fighting in Ukraine. According to him, the continuation of hostilities and their "consequences for the whole world are huge, the impact on the socio-economic situation is already being felt in Moldova."
Guterres declared his readiness to assist Moldova in overcoming difficulties due to the influx of Ukrainian refugees.
Answering journalists' questions about why he came to Chisinau on May 9, when Victory Day is celebrated, Guterres said that "it's a coincidence."
"The visit was planned a long time ago. The current visit is a mission of solidarity and gratitude to Moldova. I have come to thank Moldova for opening up to the refugees and for the assistance provided to them. Ukraine's most fragile neighbor has received the largest number of refugees per capita. Almost 500 thousand refugees have entered Moldova from Ukraine, more than 90 thousand remain here. This is 4% of the country's population," Guterres said.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova, from February 24 to May 8, about 420 thousand refugees from Ukraine crossed the border. Currently, about 92 thousand refugees remain in the republic, half of whom are children. The Migration and Asylum Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova has received more than 7 thousand applications for asylum.
For her part, the Prime Minister of Moldova, in connection with the Transnistrian problem, stated that there are no additional signs of a threat to the security of the republic.
"We are concerned about the incidents that have occurred recently in Transnistria. At the same time, we are monitoring the situation. We have no data on threats to the security of the republic. We use all diplomatic ways to preserve peace and stability on the banks of the Dniester," Gavrilitsa said at a joint press conference with Guterres.
Speaking about cooperation with the UN, she stressed that Moldova counts on the support of the UN in the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict exclusively by peaceful means.
"Moldova uses the UN platform to demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of the Transnistrian region of our country, as well as to draw attention to human rights violations committed in a region controlled by an unrecognized regime," the prime minister stressed.
According to her, "the reflection of these problems in UN resolutions keeps the Transnistrian problem in the field of view of the international community." "We want to find a peaceful solution to the Transnistrian problem in such a way that it strengthens our state and allows it to develop further for the benefit of all citizens," Gavrilitsa said.
Answering the same question, Guterres expressed hope that "peace and stability will be preserved in Moldova." "I hope that the responsible persons on the two banks of the Dniester will show responsibility to preserve peace and cope with these challenges. We stand for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova," Guterres stressed.
