The bridge between the villages Gura Bicului and Bicioc will become functional by the end of this month. The chief negotiators of Chisinau and Tiraspol to the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks, Gheorghe Balan and Vitaly Ignatiev, on November 3 signed a draft protocol decision on the opening of the bridge, IPN reports.

After the signing, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Michael Scanlan said this is a historical day as the sides managed to come to terms for everyone’s benefit.

Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Gheorghe Balan said the bridge has been non-functional for several dozen years. In 2002, this was reconstructed. As a result of negotiations held with Tiraspol and with the assistance of the international partners involved in the Transnistrian conflict settlement process, an agreement to reopen the bridge was reached in the interests of the population and business entities.

“We hope the bridge will be reopened by end-November and this will help cut the road to Odessa. This road is connected to the M14 Chisinau – Odessa highway. With foreign investment inclusive, we hope this European corridor will become attractive and functional, for the benefit of the inhabitants of both sides of the Nistru,” noted the Deputy Prime Premier.

Vitaly Ignatiev also said the protocol decision provides that this section will not be used for military purposes. “We hope this is a first very important step towards solving the whole set of issues related to the free movement, transport and logistics,” he stated.

The bridge was rebuilt with European funds in 2002, but hasn’t been put into operation. The sector working groups on behalf of Chisinau and Tiraspol will meet next week will estimate the costs for eliminating the technical faults.

The bridge near Gura Bicului was bombed in 1992.