The visa liberalization plan between Moldova and the European Union includes conditions regarding the settlement of the Transnistrian dispute. One of them is to issue biometric passports to the people living on both banks of the Nistru River, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Natalia Gherman told Radio Free Europe in an interview, IPN reports.

The official said that since the Moldova – EU Visa Liberalization Plan of Action started to be implemented, more than 52% of the Transnistrians have come into possession of Moldovan biometric passports. “This is the precondition for travelling visa-free. The people follow the efforts made by the Government, the changes brought about and the assessments of the made progress carried out by the European Commission and the EU members states,” stated Natalia Gherman.

Asked if Russia may use the Transnistrian conflict in order to exert pressure on Moldova’s western ambitions, Natalia Gherman said that unfortunately Tiraspol is not ready to discuss the essence of the Transnistrian settlement, namely the political model. If the Russian side had wanted to ease the progress, it would have exerted more influence on the talks and this would have justified their status of mediator.