Chisinau, 9 February /MOLDPRES/ - The meeting that has taken place in Tiraspol was not merely a meeting between the political representatives to settlement negotiations, but also an event which renewed the activity of expert groups from both banks of the Dniester, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for reintegration issues Victor Osipov told a news conference on 9 February.

Osipov said that the meeting was an opportunity for the heads of expert groups to exchange opinions and to agree on the elaboration and implementation of a working agenda by late February. The sides also agreed that meetings between the expert groups would be held in Chisinau, Tiraspol and Bender. "The operation of these groups is very important for the Moldovan government, in particular in terms of elaboration and implementation of social projects for people from the left bank of the Dniester. We agreed that consultations would start on 11 February already, when jointly with western experts, the groups will approach the issue of restoration of the railway link," Osipov said.

The deputy prime minister noted that the resumption of work of the expert group would allow using funds offered by various international organizations in order to develop the districts from the left bank of the Dniester.

Osipov said that the steps taken by the Moldovan authorities to settle the Transnistrian conflict are hampered on both banks of the Dniester by some forces that are hindering the resumption of political dialogue. He gave as example the detention of four Moldovans from the village of Oxentea, Dubasari District, who had been apprehended by Transnistrian border guard officers. "Actions by the Transnistrian state security ministry leave the impression that it does not coordinate its activities with any Transnistrian administration body. The young men were detained without any reason whatsoever, are held in inhuman conditions which is in breach of the human rights and freedoms. We asked the Transnistrian political representative [foreign minister Vladimir Yastrebchak] to help release them but we have no answer yet," Osipov said.

The Moldovan official said that the deployment of so-called Transnistrian border guard officers wearing weapons in the security zone runs counter to all previous agreements concerning the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Osipov gave assurances that the government would do its best to solve the reintegration problem so as to meet Moldova's national interests. He urged the media to professionally treat events related to this issue proceeding from specific deeds rather than personal opinions or opinions of non-constructive forces from both banks of the Dniester River.