 | FREE TRADE with the rest of the world has been banned for over a year. Failing to reach its goal, many now see the move as Moldova's worst mistake. [more] |  | | |  | KISSINGER says negotiations will only succeed if they reflect an objective reality. For Moldova and Pridnestrovie, it means both must face the facts on the ground. [more] |
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EU urges Moldova to end railroad blockade of Transdniester
On an official visit to Tiraspol, EU representative Kalman Mizsei urged Moldova and Pridnestrovie to re-open free railroad traffic links. Pridnestrovie (also known as Transdniester) has been the target of a Moldovan railroad blockade since 2004. The Chamber of Commerce calculates losses at $17M per year.
The rail traffic should be resumed, said the EU's Kalman Mizsei during his official visit to Pridnestrovie's Parliament (shown)TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - During an official visit to Tiraspol on Tuesday 22 January, European Union regional representative Kalman Mizsei said that steps should be taken to re-open the free flow of railroad traffic involving both Moldova and Pridnestrovie.
" - The rail traffic should be resumed and we spoke about it with Mr. Shevchuk," said the European Union’s Special Representative Kalman Mizsei, adding that "this is important for Pridnestrovie’s citizens."
The statement following a meeting with Yevgeny Shevchuk, the current Speaker of Pridnestrovie's Parliament and leader of the country's largest opposition party, Renewal, which took place in the PMR Parliament’s briefing hall.
According to Parliament's Press Service, The focus of the meeting was on the social and economic situation in Pridnestrovie.
The Parliamentary Speaker and the EU Special Representative discussed rail traffic issue. Speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk informed Kalman Mizsei about problems facing Pridnestrovie’s companies due to the enforced halt in railroad traffic through Pridnestrovie, which in practical terms amounts to a railroad blockade enforced by Moldova against the unrecognized country.
The European Union has an open and ongoing relationship with the PMR government, with efforts focusing on restarting negotiations and normalizing relations between Moldova and Pridnestrovie.
The European Union’s Kalman Mizsei said, "The European Union is ready to offer help at the technical level – advice and consultations, when joint projects are launched."
- Need for confidence building
As to the efforts of the international community to restart negotiations and to normalize relations between Moldova and Pridnestrovie, Kalman Mizsei said that more efforts should be invested to build confidence between two sides.
Eliminating restrictions on the free flow of railroad traffic is a good start, which will benefit the income of Pridnestrovie's exporters. Local companies are currently forced to export their products by trucks, incurring extra expenses when compared to the cheaper method of railroad shipping.
According to statistics released by Yuri Ganin, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pridnestrovie, local exporters lose $17 million dollars per year in extra shipping costs due to Moldovan blocks on railroad traffic originating in the new and emerging country.
With brief exceptions, this situation has been in place since 2004 when Moldova refused to allow rail traffic involving the train stations of Tiraspol, Bender and Rybnitsa; Pridnestrovie's three largest city. No rail traffic crosses any other point throughout the length of Pridnestrovie.
- Legal right to freedom of movement
Analyzing the legal situation, Pridnestrovie's government believe that Moldova has no right to restrict the movement of exports from the disputed territory. Article 5 of the ceasefire agreement which Moldova signed in 1992 says that the movement of goods, persons and services will be free. Moreover, the protocol decision of May 2001 signed by both Moldova and Transdniestria specifies that from December 31, 2001 the sides should adjust the legislation to ensure the free movement of individuals, goods and services.
Another landmark agreement, signed with Moldova in 1997 and known as the "Primakov Memorandum", gives Pridnestrovie the right to independent and free foreign trade. This week, PMR Minister of Foreign Affairs Valeri Litskai lamented that Moldova has routinely violated all previously signed agreements.
Pridnestrovie declared independence in 1990, one year before the Republic of Moldova. It has a non-Moldovan majority and has never been part of any independent Moldovan state at any time in history. The Republic is also known in English under unofficial names such as Transdniestria or Transdniester, and in Romanian under the name Transnistria.
See also:
» Moldova's economic blockade remains #1 concern for Pridnestrovie Parliament
» EU spokesman sees openness in Transdniester's civil society
» EU warns against over-simplification in Moldova - Transdniestria status talks
| more about life in Pridnestrovie | |||||
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Teen pregnancies which end in abortions have so far doubled in Pridnestrovie. In the first four months of 2008, five hundred girls between 15 and 19 had an unwanted pregnancy removed. On Monday a new civic project was launched to hold back the increase in abortions. . . 
