Press
UKRAINE AND MOLDOVA MARCHING IN PARALLEL TO EUROPEAN UNION – AMBASSADOR SERGEI PIROZHKOV
09.08.2012
Ukraine and Moldova collaborate within the framework of a common external political strategy, says Sergei Pirozhkov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Moldova.
In his interview with Kishinevskii Obozrevatel [Chisinau Observer] Russian-language daily newspaper, the diplomat called Euro-integration and accession to the European Union as “a common objective both for Ukraine and Moldova… In this sense, we are advancing in parallel courses”.
Concerning the demarcation of the state border between the two countries, Ambassador Pirozhkov said that out of 1,222 kilometers of the joint border, 740 km have already been demarked.
“The remaining 452-kilometer portion – the central segment of the Ukrainian-Moldovan border – is the so-called Transnistrian portion. Last 2 years, we have carried out what we couldn’t have even started over previous 10 years – have completed the field demarcation work proper [and drawn up all necessary documents, which are now waiting their signature]. In fact, we have resolved all problematic questions that had existed during the border demarcation in the areas of Giurgiulesti, Palanca and Dniester-2 hydro-electric power station”, said Sergei Pirozhkov.
He hopes that at the next bilateral working meeting, due in September, the parties will accomplish the drafting of all documents on the demarcation of these problematic border segments.
The diplomat explained that in the Dniester power plant area, the border – which has already been demarked – will run along the river’s navigating channel.
“As for the property [the power plant proper], it will remain with Ukraine because in the Soviet period this was an object of the so-called union-republican subordination, and the plant was built and financed by Ukraine via the central USSR Budget… Currently, the parties are negotiating also the drafting of an agreement on the functioning of the Dniester-2 hydro-electric power station. This is a buffer hydro-energy facility, and the agreement is to determine the mechanism and order of maintenance of this object”, said Sergei Pirozhkov.
Touching on the recognition by Ukraine of the Moldovan title to objects the republic had built in Ukraine in previous decades, the Ambassador said that Ukraine has already recognized Moldova as the owner of 47-of-137 such objects.
“As for the rest objects pending, Chisinau has not yet presented all necessary documents. As for Ukraine, we ask Moldova to recognize our title to only one object – the buffer Dniester-2 hydro-electric power station. The Moldovan side doesn’t mind, in principle, but wants the station question to be solved simultaneously with the recognition of the Moldovan ownership and with the signing of official documents on the titles to the said Moldovan objects”, said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Sergei Pirozhkov.
