Moldovan government efforts on protection of Dniestre river successful - PM says
09:50 | 13.04.2019 Category: Official
Chisinau, 13 April /MOLDPRES/- As a result of the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the Ukrainian side decided to cease all works on the construction of water cascades on the Dniestre River until the impact assessment of the strategy on environment in the cross-border context, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.
“At all the meetings we had with the Ukrainian officials, including Prime Minister Volodimir Groisman, we discussed the Dniester River as a common good and our supreme interest in preserving the ecosystem of this river. I thank the colleagues who have been involved in the negotiations and the Ukrainian side that has shown openness and understanding,” Prime Minister Pavel Filip said.
The environment topic has always been on the agenda of the Moldovan-Ukrainian talks:
In the summer of 2017, following the negotiations, Ukraine ratified the Rome Agreement of 2012 on cooperation in the protection of the Dniestre. This agreement also provided for the creation of the Joint Commission on the stable use and protection of the Dniester basin.
In December 2017, Pavel Filip and Volodimir Groisman signed a joint address to the European Commission to obtain expertise to conduct a comprehensive ecological impact study across the Dniester River basin.
In both countries, the Global Environment Fund - Facilitating cross-border cooperation and integrated water resources management in the Dniester river basin" is being carried out, which takes a thorough analysis of the Dniester River basin, highlighting cross-border problems and risks. Also, the Embassy of Sweden in the Republic of Moldova conducts a study on social and environmental impact in Moldova following the operation of the Dniestre hydropower complex.
"All these actions are meant to ensure the protection of the Dniester River so that it remains a common wealth. Nothing is more important than keeping the river for future generations," Filip said.
