Moldovan and Transnistrian Chief Negotiators Eugen Carpov and Nina Shtanski signed a protocol decision on freedom of movement during the first round of the 5+2 talks under the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship that concluded today in Vienna, IPN reports.

In a news conference after the talks, Ambassador Radojko Bogojević, Special Representative of the Swiss OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transnistrian settlement process, welcomed the removal of obstacles for the free movement of permanent residents of the Transnistrian region possessing foreign passports, other than Moldovan.

Ambassador Jennifer Brush, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, called on the sides to continue to focus on freedom of movement, and work towards the opening the Gura-Bicului bridge.

Nina Shtanski said that this round of negotiations was held amid tenser relations between the two sides. She added that though she was mostly contended with the signed protocol, she is not as optimistic about the opening of the Gura-Bicului bridge as Chisinau demands that all the vehicles in the Transnistrian region should be registered on the right bank of the Nistru.

Shtanski welcomed the efforts made to ensure good functioning of the Latin-script schools in Transnistria, underlining that the local administration does not want to cause the liquidation of these institutions.

Eurgen Carpov said the constitutional authorities see no technical impediment to opening the Gura-Bicului bridge, especially because this is beneficial for the people living near this bridge. Chisinau will examine all the problems reported by the Transnistrian side and will see how they can be solved.

The next meeting is scheduled to take place in Vienna on April 10-11.