PM asks Tiraspol authorities to remove departure ban for officials of Moldova

Chisinau, 13 July /MOLDPRES/ – Prime Minister, Maia Sandu, has had a meeting with representatives of mediators and observers in negotiation format 3+2 on Friday, 12 July. The talks focused on assessment of current stage of the Transnistrian settlement process, the government's communication and protocol department has reported.

"There are more issues that we need to provide citizens with, and one of most important is the goal of the Transnistrian settlement negotiations. On the one hand, the purpose of format 5+2 is the political settlement of conflict based upon sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova; on the other hand, Tiraspol continues to plead for independence. What, however, is the terminus of the negotiations in this format, established to ensure the territorial reintegration of Moldova, when these two objectives are mutually exclusive? In support of which objective are the understandings reached so far in this format, including the policy of small steps?", asked Premier.

"All these years, Chisinau has been opened to Tiraspol: the latter was accepted as part of negotiation process, inhabitants of the left bank of Dniester were assured free movement, including crossing state border, persons benefited from more projects, and Transnistrian region benefited from the same free trade areas as the right bank. However, we are not closer to the political solution. Moreover, some Moldovan citizens, including officials and civil servants, do not have the right to departure freely on the left bank," said PM.

Maia Sandu requested assistance from format 3+2 representatives in determining the Transnistrian party to eliminate in upcoming future the ban on departure to the left bank for all citizens of Moldova.

PM stressed that format 5+2 of the Transnistrian settlement should become a platform to help fight corruption and smuggling. "We have also discussed this in Kiev and I am glad that we have the same position in relation to it. The fight against corruption and smuggling in the Transnistrian region must be a priority. We shall ensure that both state institutions and government officials will no longer be involved in corruption and smuggling schemes with Tiraspol, as happened in the past. As long as the Transnistrian region is a major source of illegal enrichment for some persons, it will be no real progress in identifying a political solution," said Maia Sandu. In this context, she mentioned the need to prolong the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM).

The head of OSCE Mission to Moldova, Claus Neukirch,  reiterated that securing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova, with a special status for the Transnistrian region, is the key factor in the work of mission, but also the main goal of talks in format 5+2. "With small steps, but we advance on this dimension. We want Chisinau and Tiraspol to maintain a continuous dialogue", said the European official.