First freight train via Transnistria departs from Rybnitsa

The freight traffic through the Transistrian region was resumed after a six-year hiatus. The first train with 30 cars set off from Rybnitsa in the morning of April 26, loaded with metal products of the Metallurgical Plant. It is heading for the Ukrainian port Mariupol. The event was attended by Prime Minister Vlad Filat and the Transnistrian leader Yevgeny Shevchuk, Info-Prim Neo reports. Vlad Filat thanked the Transistrian leader for keeping his word as regards the reopening of the freight train routes. “We said at the very first meeting that we will make everything possible for the people to be able to move freely. Today this thing happened. As to the next steps, we will continue to cooperate,” he stated. “The resumption of freight traffic is important, but developing the economy on both sides of the Nistru is more important as we must enter new markets.” Yevgeny Shevchuk also thanked the Premier for cooperation. He said that the restoration of the freight train routes will enable to take other measures for the people’s benefit. According to him, the next joint projects refer to the restoration of movement on the bridge in Gura-Bacului, which has been blocked for 20 years, and the organization of the summer holidays of 200 children at camps situated on the banks of the Nistru so as to improve communication with the young generation. The officials agreed to implement measures in the health sector so as to make sure that the people living on the sides of the Nistru have access to medical services of a high quality. In a meeting centering on this topic held earlier, there was agreed a joint action plan for the immediate period. Leaders of Chisinau and Tiraspol will soon meet to sign a protocol on the restoration of fixed-line and mobile telephone communication. While in Rybnitsa, Vlad Filat and Yevgeny Shevchuk familiarized themselves with the work of the new customs post set up at the Rybnitsa railway terminal, in accordance with the protocol decision signed on March 30. Under the same agreement, similar customs posts were opened at Bender-2 terminal in Varnita village. The freight and passenger traffic via Transnistria was stopped in March 2006.