Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Victor Osipov said that the prolonged pause of negotiations in the 5+2 format is causing concern for all the participants, but this pause cannot last forever and talks will be resumed. During the Fabrika talk-show on Publika TV, the official insisted that this is the only way to find solutions for problems related to the Transnistrian conflict, IPN reports.
According to Osipov, Tiraspol wants Chisinau to cancel all the criminal charges against representatives of the separatist administration, which is impossible. The Deputy PM explained that Tiraspol put forward this hardline demand a year ago and the 5+2 negotiations were halted afterwards. The Transnistrian negotiators insisted on the mutual deletion of criminal files and charges as a condition for resuming talks. Osipov explained that although Moldova's constitutional authorities have opened the most criminal cases, the Tiraspol regime recently began opening criminal files against high-ranking officials from Chisinau, like the Minister of Agriculture or the head of the Chamber of Licensing. The Deputy says this is not a new problem, but the Transnistrian side is now using it to hamper the 5+2 negotiations.
“We cannot quash all the files. Some of them concern serious and very serious crimes. There aren't any initiated on charges of separatism or anything like this”, said the official.
As regards Tiraspol's interdiction for farmers from the right bank of the Nistru to work their lands along the Camenca-Tiraspol road, Osipov explained that a compromise was reached several yeas ago, but the Transnistrian side acted unilaterally 2 years ago and imposed this ban. The Deputy PM hopes that a solution can be reached with the help of mediators.
Among the good things, Victor Osipov noted that some aid was sent in spring to schools in Transnistria that use the Latin alphabet, aid that had gathered dust in warehouses for years. Moreover, he said that it was agreed that these schools would be inspected like any other and, starting on September 1, they should function normally.
