MOLDOVAN PREMIER OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BRATISLAVA PROTOCOL

Moldovan Prime Minister Ion Chicu hopes that the final Protocol of the 5+2 format meeting held in Bratislava in November will be eventually signed and this should help maintain the positive dynamic of the Transnistrian conflict settlement process, he stated in his meeting with Ambassador Claus Neukirch, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, held on Tuesday.

The Premier highlighted the important role played by the OSCE as a mediator to the Transnistrian conflict settlement, and confirmed that the Moldovan Government is interested to brisk up the 5+2 format negotiations, about the measures stipulated in the compromise variant of the Bratislava Protocol proposed by the incumbent Slovakian OSCE Presidency.

The document stipulates measures to be taken within the policy of small steps to bring closer the residents of both Dniester River sides, ensure the freedom of movement of persons and motor vehicles from one river side to the other, respect for human rights in the Transnistrian region, and to finally resolve the problems still faced by Latin-script Moldova-administered schools in Transnistria. Ambassador Claus Neukirch welcomed the new Government's fruitful cooperation in the Transnistrian conflict settlement process and highlighted positive changes in the realization of the judiciary reform in Moldova.