Moldovan deputy premier meets Ukraine's special representative for Transnistrian settlement process

Chisinau, 15 March /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister Gheorghe Balan today received Ukraine’s Special Representative for Transnistrian Settlement Process, His Excellency Valery Zhovtenko. The diplomat was accompanied by Ukrainian Ambassador to Moldova, His Excellency Ivan Gnatishin, the Reintegration Policies Bureau has reported.  

The Ukrainian officials were informed about the present situation in the settlement process. The deputy prime minister highlighted the major problems on the agenda of the Chisinau-Tiraspol dialogue, which require to be settled without delay (free access of farmers to their lands in the Dubasari district, creation of needed conditions for the good work of the Latin-script schools from the Transnistrian region, obstacles put to the free movement, maintaining stability in the Security Zone, etc).   

Also, Balan reiterated that the efforts taken by the Moldovan authorities were aimed at helping identify friendly solutions for the living and activity for the residents from both banks of Dniester.

For his part, His Excellency Valery Zhovtenko gave assurances that Ukraine unequivocally backed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova, remained deeply involved in the Transnistrian settlement process and would contribute to the gradual advancement of the process of talks and promotion of a constructive dialogue between the sides.     

In the context, the officials expressed firm determination to establish joint control at the Moldovan-Ukrainian state border on the central (Transnistrian) segment. In this respect, the sides stressed the importance of the frontier’s joint control, from the perspective of modernization and simplification of procedures, as well for tightening the borders’ security, combating the contraband, illegal trafficking and other negative elements present at the border.    

Another topic for discussion was focused on the unconditional withdrawal of the troops and stocks of ammunitions from Moldova, according to the constitutional provisions and the present international commitments.

In the end of the meeting, the officials voiced openness and mutual interest in strengthening the bilateral cooperation between the two states.