MOLDOVAN AND UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS DISCUSS TRANSNISTRIAN SETTLEMENT ISSUES

Moldova's Special Representative for Transnistria negotiations, Deputy Prime Minister for Country Reintegration Cristina Lesnic and Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Alexander Turchinov have discussed questions of Transnistrian conflict settlement and other issues of bilateral cooperation.

In the course of their meeting held in Kiev on Thursday, they focused on the organization of control by international observers over the Kolbasna ammunition depots in Transnistria that are situated only 1.5 kilometers off the Ukrainian border and present danger to the security of the whole region around.

Alexander Turchinov stressed: "The Russian Federation has grossly violated its international commitments to withdraw the weapons and ammunitions stored at the Russian military base, and continues to deploy illicitly its military contingent that is the center of destabilization in the region. We have always backed and will be further backing Moldova, with which we are marching together along one road to European integration".

Cristina Lesnic emphasized that Moldova is remaining faithful to European values, and regards Ukraine to be a reliable partner on this road.

"That's why we are interested in yet a greater intensification of cooperation with Ukraine, including in issues of demilitarization of Transnistria and its reintegration with the Republic of Moldova", said Deputy Premier Cristina Lesnic.