Moldovan, Transnistrian speakers tackle projects, trade

Chisinau, 18 May /MOLDPRES/- After almost 13 years of cessation of official relations, Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu today met the speaker of the parliament from the Transnistrian region, Mihail Burla in Bender, the parliament's communication and public relations department has reported.

The meeting was carried out following an initiative by Andrian Candu, supported by the OSCE Mission to Moldova, and aimed at boosting the dialogue with the Transnistrian region.

The talks lasted about 3 hours. Candu and Burla approached more social and economic issues, including the creation of a dialogue group between MPs, participation of the Tiraspol-based State University in the European programme on higher education, Erasmus, extending the area of intervention of SMURD (Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication) on the left bank of the Dniester, mediating the dialogue between the chambers of commerce and industry.

A special topic of the talks was focused on the importance of common infrastructure projects, especially in telephony, electrification of railways and emergency medical services. The sides also discussed issues of foreign trade beginning with 1 January 2016.

Andrian Candu and Mihail Burla agreed that the first joint action should take place in Chisinau, offering to mark the International Children's Day along with young people from both banks of the Dniester. The children will have opportunity to talk to Candu and Burla, who will prepare them more surprises.

"I hope very much that, step by step, and maybe with less politics, we will manage, so that our dialogue be continuous and permanent and many elements which are human, first of all, should be achieved, and subsequently, we will find solutions to other processes too," Candu said.

For his part, Burla voiced confidence that such meetings were absolutely necessary, as many things could be solved namely through dialogue and communication. "I hope that our dialogue will continue, and we will take every effort to keep peace on both banks of Dniester and to find solutions to the current problems," Burla said. He added that the lawmakers must do so that the citizens from both banks of the Dniester live better.

Subsequently, Andrian Candu and Mihail Burla visited the Alexandru cel Bun secondary school, placed at the same headquarters with the Bender-based Office of OSCE Mission.

(Editor M. Jantovan)