Transnistrian issue cannot hinder dialogue on visa regime liberalization, opinions

The Transnistrian issue is not mentioned as an impediment or a separate matter in the Plan of Action on the Liberalization of the Visa Regime. Even if this problem is not favorable for the prospects, it cannot hinder the dialogue on the liberalization of the visa regime, deputy director of the Foreign Ministry’s European Integration Department Eugen Caras said in a meeting of the Press Club organized by the Foreign Policy Association, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The discussions with the European Commission did not reveal insurmountable problems in the dialogue on the visa regime liberalization. Even if the Transnistrian problem exists, progress in the talks on the visa-free regime can be made,” Eugen Caras said. According to him, the exemplary cooperation with the Ukrainian services is very important as Ukraine is also interested in having secure borders because it also has a plan of action on the liberalization of the visa regime. “We believe the prospects of liberalizing the visa regime with the EU will have a beneficial impact on the Transnistrian conflict settlement process as the right bank of the Nistru will become more attractive when the holders of biometric passports will be able to travel in the Schengen Area visa-free,” said Eugen Caras. Victor Chirila, executive director of the Foreign Policy Association, said the Plan of Action does not specify the steps that the Government of Moldova must take in the Transnistrian region, but the preamble of the documents contains a subtle reference to this issue. “The European Commission says the implementation of the Plan of Action will be assessed from the perspective of ensuring security and combating illegal migration related to the Transnistrian issue. I think the European Union will not neglect this subject, but this problem will not be a hindrance in the liberalization of the visa regime,” he said. According to Victor Chirila, the liberalization of the visa regime with the EU is an opportunity to initiate a dialogue on the issue with the Transnistrian administration and of expanding the discussion of different subjects. “We should engage the Transnistrian administration in dialogue and this Plan of Action is a very good opportunity for holding discussions, including involving representatives of the European Union,” he stated. Executive director of the Moldovan-Lithuanian Foundation “European Integration Studies Center” Eugen Revenco, FPA program director, said Moldova took a right step towards securing its borders. “The nonexistence of clearly demarcated borders is not a problem in itself. There are countries in the EU that had and continue to have border disputes. These are problematic issues, but they do not hinder the countries from strengthening cooperation,” he said. The Plan of Action on the Liberalization of the Visa Regime was handed over to the Government of Moldova on January 24. The meetings of the FPA’s Press Club are organized with support from the German foundation Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.