PM says Moldova starts to de facto take over control over state border in Transnistrian region

Chisinau, 4 January /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova started to de facto take over the control over the state border in the Transnistrian region through the establishment of joint Moldovan-Ukrainian customs checkpoints. Prime Minister Pavel Filip made statements to this effect in an interview given to the MOLDPRES Agency.

According to Filip, progress has been made in the relation with the authorities from the left bank of Dniester in the last period. “In late last November, we signed four protocols with the Transnistrian side, which means settlement of concrete problems for the citizens from both banks of Dniester. Besides, we also had a five-plus-two meeting in Austria, which ended with the signing of the Vienna Protocol. Moreover, Moldova started to de facto take over the control over the state border in the Transnistrian region through the establishment of joint Moldovan-Ukrainian customs checkpoints. This is, in fact, a return to normality, as it is only normal for each country to exercise control over its entire state border. We can overcome any deadlock through dialogue and making our homework well,” Filip said.  

“Time is ripe to put an end to this frozen conflict, through a solution in line with the international law,” the PM added.  

Pavel Filip specified that, following the unlocking of the talks and the progress from this year, in 2018, the government would work for the settlement of the conflict and finding a formula for the Transnistrian region as part of Moldova. “We are realistic and we know that it will not be easy for us to reach a final agreement; yet, we are willing to work and negotiate with intelligence,” the prime minister said.     

(Reporter A. Zara, editor A. Raileanu)