A working meeting of Nina Shtanski, Deputy Chairperson of the Government of the PMR on Issues of International Cooperation, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR, with Farit Mukhametshin, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Moldova took place today. The participants of the event were also Natalya Nikiforova, Deputy Chairperson of the Government of the PMR on Social Policy, Igor Shornikov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR, and Valentin Rybitskiy, Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo Mission to the Republic of Moldova.
The meeting was focused on arrangements to the next negotiation round in the format of the “Permanent Conference” to be held as previously reported on February 18 a. c. in Lvov. According to Russia's Ambassador, it is necessary to “adjust positions” in order for proper background before the negotiation round. As the Ambassador reported such meetings are held for this purpose. The diplomat expressed confidence that it is necessary to approach the negotiation round in February with particular proposals. “Ambassadors as mediators are willing to render assistance to the settlement, in particular, while developing signing of the protocol.” According to the interlocutors, it shall be a protocol establishing the principle of the free movement of people living in Pridnestrovie and Moldova.
It is to be reminded that Nina Shtanski noticed during a working meeting of political representatives from Pridnestrovie and Moldova at the Ukrainian Embassy in Moldova that “the Pridnestrovian party expresses great optimism concerning signing of this protocol.” According to her, the issue of freedom of movement could be presented at the meeting wider, but not limited to issues of road transport.
Today the Minister pointed out three issues relating to the freedom of movement that require integrated solution: resumption and recovery of motor vehicle traffic for Pridnestrovian economic agents, freedom of movement for Russian and Ukrainian nationals who are permanent residents of the PMR (they currently face difficulties while crossing the Moldovan border), and the opening of the Bychok-Gura Bykuluy bridge, an important travel corridor. According to the diplomat, the Pridnestrovian party could open this bridge “under observance of all possibilities for Pridnestrovian agents.”
Commenting on the results of the meeting, Nina Shtanski emphasized again that the main part of the document was agreed in Dublin but there are some “pressure points”. It is difficult for parties to make a compromise on these points. According to her, specialists and experts are working on the issue at the moment in order to present their findings to the political representatives. “There is a strong impetus sent by the ambassadors of Ukraine and Russia who are also ready to join this activity. I wish this activity would bring a result enabling good living conditions for our people,” the Minister added.
In conclusion, Nina Shtanski thanked the Russian diplomat for assistance in arrangement of the visit of Sergey Gubarev, Ambassador-at-Large of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RF, and Vitaly Tryapitsyn, Deputy Director of the Second Department of CIS-countries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RF. The visit shall be held next week. According to her, involvement of Russia as a guarantor in all stages of the negotiation process shall be necessary for Pridnestrovie.
