Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) / Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Moldova: the Dutch contribution
On 16 May 1993, the Dutch Ministry of Defence supplied 1 military observer for the mission in Moldova. The deployment period for the Dutch observers varied from 6 months to almost 4,5 years.
Observers at meetings
The mission consisted of 8 people until December 2002, after which there were 10. An important requirement for the function was knowledge of the Russian language so that personnel found it easier to take part in meetings. From the mission headquarters in Chisinau and the suboffice in Tiraspol, the successive Dutch observers gathered as much relevant information as possible about military affairs along the demarcation line between Moldova and Transdniestr.
Diplomatic work
The observer also maintained contacts with the military authorities of the various parties. He regularly investigated incidents and assessed the possible political implications. The nature of the work was mainly diplomatic: participation in meetings with ambassadors, ministers and members of the military. The Netherlands withdrew its military observer from the mission on 20 September 2004; at that time, there was as yet no prospect of a solution to the conflict.