Filat and Shevchuk extend freight rail transportation agreement

Prime Minister Vlad Filat and Tiraspol leader Yevgeni Shevchuk today signed for the extension of the freight rail transportation agreement, which was initially signed for six months, Info-Prim Neo reports. “We agreed to extend by one year the arrangement concerning freight rail transportation. The meeting agenda also featured the issue of human rights and freedoms. We also took stock of the progress made and agreed on future actions”, stated Vlad Filat in a press conference at the conclusion of the meeting in Chisinau. Yevgeni Shevchuk stated that the extended agreement will be a further guarantee for the businesses using freight train services. Shevchuk revealed that during the meeting he and Filat also discussed issues related to the freedom of movement for individuals. “We must remove economic barriers and those pertaining to the freedom of movement. Concrete steps must be taken to resolve these problems”, stated Shevchuk. On a different subject, when asked by reporters which side would foot the bill for the Russian gas used in the Transnistrian region, Vlad Filat said it's the responsibility of those who accrued the debt. Yevgeni Shevchuk, for his part, said this is a very important issue that is being examined. Concerning Russia's plans to open a Consulate in Tiraspol, Filat and Shevchuk said the issue wasn't discussed at the meeting. Last time Vlad Filat and Yevgeni Shevchuk met in June on the margins of an OSCE conference dedicated to the Transnistrian settlement.