OSCE Mission considers Transnistrian side is making a mistake by not discussing security issues

“I think it's a mistake that the Transnistrian side is reluctant to discuss the security issues that are included in Basket Three, and this is not helping their people,” Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Jennifer Brush stated. In an interview for Info-Prim Neo of the series “Year 2012 in Moldova’s and Moldovans’ life” {that was published on December 12, 2012}, the Ambassador said that everything that they do in the context of 5+2 is about finding a special status for Transnistria within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Moldova. “When we talk about the freedom of movement, it goes both ways. Transnistrians perceive a number of obstacles preventing them from having freedom of movement: everything from their license plates to their status as legal permanent residents of Moldova. And, likewise, Moldovans find their freedom of movement prohibited by checkpoints and peacekeepers. So we need to keep on discussing the obstacles to freedom of movement and trying to find a solution. I think it's core to the negotiations that freedom of movement remain the most important issue,” said Jennifer Brush. She also said that over the years they've agreed on a series of steps to improve law-enforcement and disaster preparedness. The Transnistrian side is fond of accusing the Moldovan side of not implementing their previously agreed to agreements, but in this case it's the Transnistrian side that's not willing to implement them. The OSCE Mission made a list of recommendations on these agreements that we think the sides should discuss. “So I'm disappointed that this discussion has not occurred. In particular, after this summer's drought, it was quite clear that there was a need for cooperation and disaster preparedness. The World Bank has some type of formula for the degree to which preparedness for disaster can mitigate the harm of disasters, and so it's quite clear: moving forward that disaster preparedness reduces the cost of disasters. So why the two sides do not want to cooperate on measures that will help their people? I don't understand that,” said Jennifer Brush. The series of interviews “Year 2012 in Moldova’s and Moldovans’ life” that was launched by Info-Prim Neo on December 6 was opened by Prime Minister Vlad Filat. The interview with the chairman of the Communist Party Vladimir Voronin followed afterward. The next interviews will contain opinions about the performance of the passing year stated by Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar, Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca, Minister of Justice Oleg Efrim, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov, expert of the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT Corneliu Gurin, director of the National Anticorruption Center Viorel Chetraru, head of the Community of Moldovans in Quebec Ala Mandacanu, and singer Cristofor Aldea Teodorovici.