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Breakaway Transnistria accuses Moldova of stalling talks on lifting import blockade

In July, Ukraine stopped letting excisable products into Transnistria by rail

© ITAR-TASS/Sergey Karpov

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TIRASPOL, August 22. /TASS/. Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria has accused Chisinau of stalling talks on breaking the imports’ standoff, in which excisable goods into Transnistria are currently blocked.

"The Moldovan side has once again avoided holding a session in Tiraspol on August 23 to review problems of imports in Transnistria by rail, citing some ‘valid reasons," the Foreign Ministry of the breakaway region charged.

The ministry "has appealed to the OSCE chairperson-in-office to intensify work," the statement added.

It said Chisinau’s actions deviated from the position voiced by the OSCE chairperson-in-office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who had spoken in favor of settling the issue at the negotiating table.

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In July, Ukraine stopped letting excisable products into Transnistria by rail. Now supplies bypass the region going only through Moldova, where they first undergo registration procedures. Tiraspol views the restriction as a new move by Chisinau and Kiev to choke off the breakaway region.

According to region’s Prime Minister Pavel Prokudin, these moves have complicated supplies to the republic of vitally important products and fuels. Tiraspol, for its part, suggests different options to settle the issue, and has repeatedly urged Chisinau to engage in bilateral talks.

The Moldovan authorities dismiss Tiraspol’s accusations as groundless. "The actions by Moldova and Ukraine on rail movement via Transnistria are legal and adhere to the rules of international law," claims the Moldovan government’s Bureau of Reintegration, in charge of Transnistria settlement issues.

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Transnistria Moldova

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