Political representatives in process of talks for Transnistrian settlement have first meeting in 2021

Chisinau, 20 January /MOLDPRES/ - The first meeting from 20121 of the political representatives in the process of negotiations for the Transnistrian settlement on behalf of Chisinau and Tiraspol took place at the headquarters of the OSCE Missions from Chisinau and Tiraspol in videoconference format. Participating in the event were Olga Cebotari and Vitaly Ignatyev as the chief negotiators and attending the meeting were the participants in the 5+2 format of negotiations, the Reintegration Policies Bureau (BPR) has reported.   
In the introductory speeches, the participants welcomed the resumption, after a break of almost six month, of the meetings in this format. They also expressed willingness to maintain a constructive dialogue, in order to give an impetus to the process of talks and establishing the priority directions of work for the next period.
The discussions were focused then on the developments recorded in the carrying out of the commitments agreed in the so-called package Berlin+. The sides also pointed out the present situation, current problems, their positions and actions needed to be undertaken in the long run, in order to fully implement the protocol decisions signed during 2017-2018 (bridge between the Gura Bacului and Bacioc village villages, good work of the Latin-script school, farmlands from the Dubasari district, apostilling of the neutral model diplomas, documenting the vehicles with neutral registration plates, telecommunications), as well as to solve the problem of free movement and to observe the procedural requirements in force in the management of the files which have connection with the work of the law-enforcement bodies in charge.
The sides paid special attention to the sectoral working groups and highlighted the dynamic of the activity from 2020 (26 operative meetings against 21 ones in 2019), achievements marked and difficulties faced; they also specified the need to boost them, in order to enhance the efficiency and identify viable technical solutions from both banks of Dniester and also agreed on the willingness to take necessary measures through their activation and summoning of the meetings of competent experts on concrete subjects on the forthcoming period.     
The participants in the meeting said that, as a result of the interaction in 2020, the sides had managed to sign four documents in the process of negotiations and the agenda continues to contain and it is necessary to be additionally coordinated and given final touches to also other sectoral protocol decisions, including in the sphere of removing technical obstacles to the trade and protection of consumers’ rights.   
Also, the chief negotiators exchanged opinions on other topical issues covered also in the correspondence held on the last period between the offices of political representatives, with the setting forth by Chisinau of the steps and procedures necessary to be undertaken in accordance with the rigours in force.  
In the context of planning the processes for this year, the sides set the priority directions of movement in the near future; the Chisinau political representative emphasized the need to maintain an active dynamic in all current formats of negotiations, create premises for resuming the official rounds in the 5+2 format, implement the Berlin+ package and settle the urgent problems in the interest of the residents, promote new positive humanitarian initiatives, removing the obstacles to the freedom of movement, provide assistance in the protection of the fundamental human rights and freedoms, carry out joint measures to efficiently fight the COVID-19 infection, with the involvement of the specialists from both banks of Dniester.
The political representatives agreed that they would maintain a permanent interaction and focused on achieving tangible results, reiterated the existence of a clear-cut political will, in order to commit and advance in the solving of the citizens’ foremost problems, as well as stressed the need to hold productive consultations with the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office, who will pay a working visit to Moldova till late January.    
photo: BPR