Today, Brussels hosted a regular meeting of the Permanent Conference under Ukraine's OSCE Chairmanship. Participating in the meeting were Political Representatives of Pridnestrovie and Moldova Nina Shtanski and Yevgeny Karpov, as well as representatives of mediators – Russia, Ukraine and OSCE, and observers – the EU and the USA.
In the course of the meeting Tiraspol and Kishinev discussed a number of issues in the context of the problem of free movement of the population and transport, in particular, they paid attention to opening of the bridge near villages Bychok and Gura-Bykului and discussed new rules of migration control introduced by the Republic of Moldova.
As Nina Shtanski marked during final briefing, the Pridnestrovian side highly assessed assurances of the Moldovan side about planned decisions to remove existing restrictions, administrative obstacles and sanctions faced by Pridnestrovian people holding passports of Russia, Ukraine and other countries. In her opinion, this fact will allow bring the sides closer to the solution about opening of Bychok -Gura-Bykului bridge. “Removing restrictions is one of the items of agreement discussed by the sides for a long period of time,” the diplomat specified. She expressed confidence that such decision of Moldovan authorities will restore for the Pridnestrovian people the lost possibility to move freely across the border by cars, to use Kishinev airport and trains moving via north of Moldova to Ukraine and Russia.
Moldova's representative reported to journalists that the corresponding normative-legal act by the Parliament of Moldova is expected to be adopted already the next week.
Referring to the point of introduction of border police mobile groups, Nina Shtanski marked that “equipping the border with Pridnestrovie is a sovereign right of Moldova. However, the Pridnestrovian side would like any innovations not to be at odds with decisions reached within negotiation process and not to worsen the situation of Pridnestrovian people”. During the session the Pridnestrovian side asked a number of questions relating to the work of border police of Moldova but didn't receive answers to all of them. Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrey Deshchitsa offered to discuss this issue at the level of expert (working) groups. Nina Shtanski expressed hope that in the nearest future the sides will be able to discuss all controversial aspects at the level of political representatives as well.
Separate attention was paid to dismantling of the Rybnitsa-Rezina cable car. Nina Shtanski told at the briefing that the Russian side had voiced its willingness to carry out all necessary work for dismantling of the cable car.
Moreover, Nina Shtanski informed journalists that in the course of the meeting the Pridnestrovian side forwarded to the participants of the 5+2 format the draft agreement on establishing system of internal guarantees for implementation of signed agreements. It is to be reminded that earlier Pridnestrovie put forward the initiative about system of guarantees. The Russian side pointed to the need of these guarantees in the course of today's round. It was decided, after this draft is examined by the participants it will be discussed at the next meeting.
Ecological issues relating to dredging and river bed cleaning on the Dniester were also raised in the course of this round, as well as certain aspects of renewing shipping on the river. At the end Nina Shtanski marked, “We are optimistic about the fact that by small steps we can move towards solution of the problems that determine the well-being of the people”.
Photo: OSCE
