Governmental commission for reintegration highlights priorities in Transnistrian conflict settlement

Chisinau, 19 April /MOLDPRES/- The latest developments on the Transnistrian conflict and the current issues on the agenda of negotiations were discussed at a meeting of the governmental commission on reintegration of the country, chaired by Prime Minister Pavel Filip, on 18 April, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

The premier pointed out the commission’s role in boosting the settlement process, and stated that the Transnistrian problem needs permanent consultations for solving issues of major interest for the benefit of the residents from the left bank of the Dniestre. In this context, the participants approached the developments recorded and the actions due to be taken to advance the Transnistrian conflict settlement process.

This year, the efforts of the authorities should focus on implementing protocol decisions signed in 2017 by the political representatives from Chisinau and Tiraspol. Among them, the opening of the Gura Bacului-Bacioc bridge, solving the problems of Moldovan schools with teaching in the Latin script, apostiling the study documents issued in the Transnistrian region, unblocking farmers’ access to agricultural land and interacting in telecommunications. Additionally, at the initiative of the Chisinau authorities, two topics were proposed on the agenda of negotiations – monitoring observance of human rights in the Transnistrian region and situation in the Security Zone.

Also, the government’s priorities aim to promote working meetings in the 5+2 format, maintaining open dialogue with external partners on the Transnistrian problem and optimizing the activity of the sectoral working groups. Filip highlighted the need to foster the dialogue within existing negotiating platforms, noting the importance of increasing the capacity of sectoral groups and organizing regular working meetings.

Another issue was related to the coordination of the external assistance meant to support the people from the eastern districts of the country, emphasizing the importance of consulting the financing projects and the competent authorities in Chisinau. Since 2015, 36 projects worth over 45 million euros have been carried out with the support of foreign partners, the largest donor being the European Union. At the same time, many development prorgrammes in the region are implemented by the Moldovan government. In this regard, 15 million lei was allocated for this year.