In the latest round of 5+2 talks in the Transnistrian settlement process held in Brussels, the foreign partners expressed their readiness to financially support the rehabilitation of the bridge in Gura Bacului and the adjoining infrastructure, underlining the necessity of opening the bridge, IPN reports.

According to a communiqué from the Reintegration Office, the participants in the talks welcomed the signing by Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and the Transnistrian leader Yevgeny Shevchuk of a protocol decision on the extension of the agreement on the running of freight trains via Transnistria and the improvement of the dialogue between the representatives of the political groups and sector working groups of Chisinau and Tiraspol in the recent period.

“The main topic of our discussions in Brussels was freedom of movement,” said the OSCE Chair’s Special Representative for Conflicts Ambassador Andrii Deshchytsia. “We reiterate the importance to work towards simplifications of the administrative barriers for the movement of people between both banks of the Nistru River. This would improve lives of people, bring them closer together and help build trust between them. We will continue to work with the sides towards achieving this goal.

“We have also discussed the implementation of the Protocol decision on environmental issues and sustainable use of natural resources signed in July in Vienna and the Protocol decision on the dismantling of the industrial cable car at the towns of Rybnitsa and Rezina signed in Odessa,” Deshchytsia said.

The participants in the talks were also informed about the Moldovan authorities’ intention to exclude the fines intended for foreigners that are imposed on the Transnistrians who have foreign identification papers. 

The next round of talks in the 5+2 format will take place in Kiev in November.