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Transdniestria favours “small steps” tactics at talks with Moldova

The Transdniestrian leader recognized that Tiraspol has rather tense relations with Moldova
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

CHISINAU, July 19 (Itar-Tass) - Transdniestrian leader Yevgeny Shevchuk said he favoured the “small steps” tactics at the talks with Moldova.

“When we cannot agree on free movement of citizens, goods and finances this does not mean that we’re ready to start discussing political issues. That is why we choose the ‘small steps’ tactics,” Shevchuk told Moldovan television on Friday.

“We intend to build transparent relations with our neighbours. We’d have a transparent border for law abiding citizens,” he added.

Commenting on the results of the talks on the Transdniestrian settlement within the 5+2 format (Moldova, Transdniestria, the OSCE, Russia, Ukraine and observers from the EU and the U.S.), Shevchuk said Tiraspol and Chisinau had worked out alternative approaches towards the Transdniestrian settlement.

“On one hand, the Moldovan parliament passed the law on the Transdniestria special status as part of Moldova in 2005. The law was approved by ignoring Tiraspol’s point of view. We held a referendum in 2006 at which 97 percent of Transdniestrian residents voted for the independence,” Shevchuk said.

The Transdniestrian leader recognized that Tiraspol “has rather tense relations with Moldova. This tension proceeds from the 20-year-long Moldovan-Transdniestrian conflict. The different vectors of the policy don’t facilitate this. Chisinau pursues the policy to the EU while Tiraspol seeks to integrate into the Eurasian Union”.

At the same time, he noted that the Transdniestrian authorities were open for cooperation, including at the level of personal contacts. “I’m ready to meet with new Moldovan Prime Minister Yuri Liance when Chisinau solves the problem related to the reshuffle of the government,” Shevchuk said.