Oleg Serebrian, Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, and Tiraspol’s chief negotiator Vitali Ignatiev met in Chisinau, at the OSCE Mission, to discuss “emerging issues in the context of the developments in the region”.

“In the current complicated regional context, it is necessary to mobilize the efforts of the authorities on both sides of the Nistru River in order to offer assistance to refugees from Ukraine transiting the Republic of Moldova or deciding to temporarily stay in localities on both sides of the Nistru, and concurrently create an environment of security”, the Moldovan Bureau for Reintegration said in a press release.

Oleg Serebrian highlighted the concern of the Moldovan authorities related to the situation in the region and called for abstaining from public messages that could create “artificial tensions”.

Also, Serebrian revisited the issue of the Dubasari farmers, insisting on the removal of obstacles impeding them from reaching their plots east of the Camenca-Tiraspol road. He also repeatedly broached the subject of the Romanian-language schools in the Transnistrian region.

Tiraspol’s chief Vitali Ignatiev spoke about difficulties faced by some companies in importing goods into the region. In response, the Moldovan side said the procedures applied to them are “fair” and are pursuant to the existing legislation.

The chief negotiators agreed to continue dialogue and step up interaction within the sectoral working groups.

Claus Neukirch, head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, underlined the importance of intense cooperation for mutually solving pressing issues and keeping calm on both sides on the Nistru.

Effective today, Ukraine shut down its border crossings along the Transnistrian segment, continuing to allow traffic only through the checkpoints under Chisinau’s effective control.