You're reading: Moldova, Transdniestria name three stumbling blocks in talks

Lviv – Representatives of Moldova and Transdniestria have named three controversial points, which haven't been settled during the negotiations in the 5+2 format in Lviv.

These are the freedom of movement across the Moldovan border for citizens of Ukraine and Russia, the non-use of the bridge near the villages of Bicioc and Gura Bicului for military purposes and issuing of neutral number plates to Transdniestrian cars involved in international transportation, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported on Tuesday.

According to Transdniestrian foreign policy chief Nina Shtanski, about 100,000 Ukrainian citizens and over 180,000 Russian citizens live in Transdniestria. “These citizens are unable to freely cross the border of the Republic of Moldova. If we decide to open a new international transport corridor, we should make sure that these people can use it, same as citizens of the Republic of Moldova,” she said.

Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Eugen Carpov said Chisinau suggested taking a broader look. “We do not set geographic limits: there are citizens of Romania, Bulgaria and other countries in Transdniestria. So we have proposed starting with discussions between the consular services of Moldova, Ukraine and Russia with the participation of Transdniestria. We need to find a solution consistent with international norms,” he said.

Speaking of the bridge, Shtanski said additional agreements were possible. “We have considered many options and suggested expressing the allegiance to earlier agreements as a compromise. But no accord was reached,” she said.

The question is immaterial to Moldova, Carpov said. “There are guarantees of non-military use of this bridge. The bridge is located within the security zone, where peacekeepers are stationed,” he stressed.

As for a neutral design of license plates on Transdniestrian vehicles, Shtanki said Moldovan representatives made new proposals at the Lviv meeting. She added she would prefer the earlier format.

“License plates are a subject of debates,” Carpov said. “There must be a common database. We proposed a specified procedure for keeping the database and controlling the movement of Transdniestrian vehicles along international routes by Chisinau and Tiraspol,” he said.