“The signature of the protocol decision on the opening of the Gura-Bicului – Bychok bridge will provide for significantly increased opportunities to facilitate the movement of people, transport and goods and business activities on both banks of the Nistru River and in the wider region,” says a statement by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, which is quoted by IPN.

The statement also says that the work of the Austrian OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office and the OSCE representation in Chisinau has been particularly important in achieving this result. It is important that this decision is now implemented as agreed by the sides and the European Union stands ready to support this as much as possible.

“As expressed in the welcoming statement of the OSCE Chairmanship, we hope that this can facilitate further steps in the 5+2 format. The European Union will continue its active participation in the negotiations on the Transnistrian settlement process and is looking forward to a meeting in the 5+2 format in the near future,” reads the statement.

Last week, the chief negotiators of Chisinau and Tiraspol to the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks, Gheorghe Balan and Vitaly Ignatiev, signed the protocol decision on the opening of the Gura-Bicului – Bychok bridge. According to the sides, the bridge will become functional by end-November.