During the visit to Pridnestrovie on January 22 a. c. the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine L. Kozhara sounded an initiative for meeting between political leaders of Pridnestrovie and Moldova E. Shevchuk and V. Filat on the margins of the “Permanent Conference” in Lvov scheduled for February 18-19 a. c. According to the Ukrainian side, such a meeting could be an important requirement for further settlement of issues, particularly in socio-economic area, by Tiraspol and Kishinev.
The President of Pridnestrovie E. Shevchuk announced his principled willingness to hold such a meeting in case of its detailed arrangement and possibility to come to specific accommodations in socio-economic area. The Pridnestrovian side suggested particularly to focus efforts and to complete adjustment of provisions of the Protocol Decision “On Some Primary Measures to Provide Freedom of Movement for Population of Pridnestrovie and the Republic of Moldova” in order to be signed by the leaders in Lvov. Besides, Pridnestrovie brought forward specific proposals to restore river navigation and civil aviation flights within the territory of both parties which could be another subject of agreement.
In the course of the consultations at the level of experts and political representatives while elaborating final version of the Protocol Decision the Moldovan side has changed its position on a number of previously agreed issues. This Protocol Decision should be signed at a high level during the possible meeting between E. Shevchuk and V. Filat. Moreover, the Moldovan side made new proposals in essence of the Protocol resolution that fundamentally change the nature of agreed provisions.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PMR is concerned about inconsistent approach shown by the Moldovan side and informs that previously planned leadership meeting in Lvov proposed by the Ukrainian party will not take place due to the lack of documents agreed for signing as the subject of the meeting.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PMR intends to further efforts finding a compromise on various issues of social and economic cooperation.
Pridnestrovian Foreign Agency expresses hope that radicalization of approaches on the part of Moldovan negotiators is not concerned with political processes in the Republic of Moldova along with messages published in a number of Moldovan media relating to the possible revision or rejection of the small steps tactics that was previously agreed by governments of Pridnestrovie and Moldova, as it was primarily designed to address the issues affecting Pridnestrovians and Moldovans as well as economic agents of both parties.
Work on the Protocol Decision “On Some Primary Measures to Provide Freedom of Movement for Population of Pridnestrovie and the Republic of Moldova” will be continued by political representatives of parties. The Pridnestrovian side initiated inclusion of issues of freedom of movement in the agenda of the Lvov negotiation round in the “5+2” format within the socio-economic bloc. Relevant projects were sent to all participants of the “Permanent Conference” during the meeting of Expert (Working) Groups on January 31 a. c.
