TIRASPOL LEADER BLAMES CHISINAU FOR INERTIA

Many acute, topical questions on the Transnistria-Moldova agenda are remaining unsettled due to the Moldovan side’s inactivity, Transnistria president Vadim Krasnoselsky stated on Wednesday, receiving in his office the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Ambassador Claus Neukirch.

Among the topical questions Krasnoselsky mentioned telecommunications, interaction in the banking sphere, the need to close down politically motivated criminal litigations, a full-fledged functioning of the Gura Bicului/Bicioc Bridge across the Dniester, and de-blocking of the northern railroad branch.

He expressed confidence that efforts by the international mediators and observers could substantially influence on invigoration of the negotiation process.

Commenting on the questions mentioned by the Transnistria president, Claus Neukirch agreed that the telecommunications and banking are particularly important for the people and economies of the two Dniester River sides, and said that the OSCE Mission is going to invite an international expert for holding consultations on the banking question. According to preliminary expectations, the expert will begin working here already in September.

“The OSCE is not leaving the Gura Bicului/Bicioc Bridge without its attention, either. Its opening and full-fledged work is an important infrastructural project. The OSCE has already held a tender that has determined a company that will assess the bridge’s technical condition. Besides this we are negotiating the repair of not only the bridge but also of the road the bridge is a part of”, said Ambassador Claus Neukirch.

That was the diplomat’s second visit to Tiraspol this week. Last Monday he met there with Transnistria’s chief negotiator, minister of foreign affairs Vitaly Ignatiev to discuss the current shape of the Chisinau-Tiraspol dialog and perspectives of its further advancement.