PM says Moldova to effectively contribute to enforcement of Berlin protocol provisions

Chisinau, July 26 /MOLDPRES/ – Chisinau has  confirmed the determination to contribute effectively to the carrying out of the Berlin Protocol both in confidence building working groups and between the political representatives, in order to achieve concrete agreements. Prime Minister Pavel Filip made statements to this effect after a meeting with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

According Filip, the officials exchanged opinions on issues on the agenda of the five-plus-two negotiations. "We have made progress. We discussed the subject on movement of cars with number plates from the left side of the Dniester internationally, recognition of education documents issued by Tiraspol on the territory of foreign countries and the telephony sector. However, we agreed to pay increased attention to social and economic problems faced by citizens on both banks of Dniester," said the prime minister.

"Among the main objectives, there are also  removing barriers to the free movement of persons, goods and services, ensuring the effective work of the Latin-script schools, free access of farmers from Dubasari district to their agricultural lands and opening bridges nearby the settlements Gura Bicului – Bicioc. At the same time, we reiterated interest to resume the five-plus-two talks on political issues, based on the development of the legal status of the Transnistrian region as part of Moldova," said Filip.

OSCE Chairman-in-Office Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the sides had discussed primarily social issues. "We must take care to ensure peace in the country. The protocol signed in Berlin is based on a roadmap to be implemented. Today we found out that the achievements had evolved. We are confident that these discussions will result in success, and are ready to make every effort necessary to resolve the conflict," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is on a 25-26 July visit to Moldova, , within which he is to have meetings with Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Galbur and Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Gheorghe Balan. The visit's agenda includes a trip to Tiraspol.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor A. Raileanu)