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Transnistrian conflict not barrier to Moldova's EU accession, claims official

"We need to discuss internally how to ensure that the residents of the left bank of the Dniester can benefit from the accelerated process through which Moldova is going," Kristina Gerasimova added

CHISINAU, March 22. /TASS/. Moldovan authorities believe that the unresolved Transnistrian issue will not stop the country from becoming a part of the EU by 2030, the Vice Prime Minister of the Republic responsible for European integration, Kristina Gerasimova, stated at a briefing.

"The Transnistrian conflict is not an obstacle to our accession to the EU - this is not my declaration, this is what the highest-ranking officials in Brussels are saying. We need to discuss internally how to ensure that the residents of the left bank of the Dniester can benefit from the accelerated process through which Moldova is going, and how to ensure that by 2030 we will be ready to join the EU as a united country," said the Vice Prime Minister.

The recent EU summit in Brussels on enlarging the organization did not specify the start date for negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on EU accession, but welcomed their progress on this path. In the summit's final statement, the EU Council at the level of foreign ministers called for the swift approval of negotiation mandates.

The start of accession negotiations with the EU does not guarantee membership in the organization. According to experts' opinions, Turkey, for example, has been in negotiations for 18 years without any headway made to become an EU member.

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Transnistria EU Moldova

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