Free movement must be a top subjects at Transnistrian conflict settlement talks, Victor Osipov

The official Moscow welcomes the Moldovan authorities' new approach to the Transnistrian dispute, but says the dialogue so far has been rigid and unproductive, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Victor Osipov said in a briefing on March 26, following his visit to Moscow on March 23 and 24, Info-Prim Neo reports. Victor Osipov said that in the meeting with Sergey Vinokurov, the head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Medvedev administration, the Russian official stressed the necessity of stepping up the human contacts between Russia and Moldova and the cooperation between the representatives of the civil society and experts in the field. “Russian experts come often to Moldova and the relations with them should be developed. Therefore, we should send them a clear signal,” Victor Osipov said. He also said that the Russian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, approved of the confidence building measures implemented by the Moldovan authorities. “They backed the idea of formulating a strategic document on the resolution of the Transnistrian dispute, in which Moldova would clearly express its position,” Victor Osipov said. Another topic discussed in Moscow was the movement of persons inside the Transnistrian region. “We laid stress on the article contained in the agreement on the principles of settling the armed conflict signed by the Presidents of Moldova and Russia in 1992. It obliges the parties to ensure the people's free movement, which is now hindered by the so many customs, border guard, police and peacekeeping posts in Transnistria. Regrettably, one of the main points of the document has not been implemented. The Moldovan authorities consider that the free movement must be a top subject at the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks,” Osipov said, adding that the Russian interlocutors agreed with this. In Moscow, the officials agreed that the negotiations will include bilateral meetings at least once a month and meetings in the 5+2 format at least once in three months. Asked if the Transnistrian authorities were consulted on this subject, Osipov said that “Iastrebcheak (Vladimir Iastrebcheak – Transnistria's main representative at the talks – e.n.) does not consult with everyone so that we shouldn't consult him.” As to the informal meeting in the 5+2 format set to take place in Astana at the end of May, Victor Osipov said a date was not yet fixed. “We continue the consultations. The efforts of all the sides are important for resuming the talks with a consistent agenda that will focus on the political aspects of the conflict,” he said.