The key negotiators to the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks Gheorghe Balan and Vitaly Ignatiev had a meeting in Bender on August 23. The meeting also involved representatives of the mediators and observers to the “5+2” format talk. The interlocutors discussed the intensification of interaction between the experts of the sector working groups for removing the barriers to the free movement of persons, units of transport, goods and services and other issues, IPN has learned from the Reintegration Office.

The political representatives also discussed the ensuring of farmers’ access to their land located beyond the Rybnitsa- Rezina road and creation of conditions for the good functioning of the Moldovan-administered Romanian-language schools in Transnistria.

Deputy Prime Minister Gheorghe Balan said the Moldovan authorities are ready to have a constructive dialogue with all the players involved in the settlement process so as resolve the pressing problems faced by the inhabitants from both sides of the Nistru River.

The Transnistrian press reported that during the discussions Vitaly Ignatiev transmitted a “protest note” to his counterpart from Chisinau in connection with the constitution of a joint customs post of Moldova and Ukraine on the territory of Transnistria. According to Ignatiev, by this unilateral action the Moldovan side violated previously reached agreements and the mechanism of the negotiation process, while the position of Tiraspol is every time ignored.

Chisinau repeatedly reiterated that the establishment of joint customs control is in accordance with the international law norms on the protection of the borders of an internationally recognized state and does not affect the interests of the population and business community of the Transnistrian region.