Sandu promised Kozak not to blockade Transnistria
Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Dmitry Kozak visited Chisinau today and held meetings with the country's President Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilitsa and Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu.
At the same time, Kozak refused to meet with the speaker of the Moldovan parliament, Igor Grossu, known for his hatred of Transnistria. The Moscow guest cited lack of time.
After the negotiations, only Kozak came out to the journalists, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“After the government was formed and an element of stability arrived, we agreed to discuss the issues on the bilateral agenda that exist. We discussed the entire list of issues, the conversation was very constructive and friendly. We agreed on cooperation and the start of dialogue at the interdepartmental level literally from tomorrow on all those topics that cause concern among citizens of Moldova and Russia,” he said.
He said that the Moldovan side asked for assistance in solving the Transnistrian problem and the related issue of ammunition disposal.
“We are also interested in this,” Kozak said.
The representative of the President of the Russian Federation greatly surprised Moldovan journalists by saying that Russia is not going to resolve the Transnistrian crisis.
“I don’t see it at all, this is your internal matter. Russia is ready to assist in ensuring that you reach an agreement in the same way as before. We are not ready to put forward any conditions of our own. This is not our business, this is your internal matter,” Kozak said.
At the same time, he said that Sandu promised him not to initiate a blockade of Transnistria.
“Maya Grigorievna assured that no one should have any concerns. There will be no blockade. They are doing everything to prevent it from happening on September 1, based on the fact that citizens of the Republic of Moldova do not live in the territory of Transnistria,” Kozak said.
According to him, they discussed mutual duty-free trade and the removal of restrictions for exporters. Kozak did not rule out that a meeting between the presidents of the two countries will take place soon.
“If we reach preliminary agreement on all the listed issues at the working level, then the meeting will definitely take place. There is a huge opportunity to achieve such agreements. I saw this today based on the dialogue with the president. The Russian Federation is ready to help Moldova, taking into account its own interests. We will definitely be friends and cooperate,” Kozak assured.
Sandu commented on the meeting with the Russian guest in her Telegram channel.
“We also discussed the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict. Confirmed the firm intention of the Republic of Moldova to resume the process of resolving the conflict exclusively by peaceful, political and diplomatic means within the framework of existing negotiation platforms, while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country within its internationally recognized borders.
We have an extensive bilateral agenda with the Russian Federation and many topics of mutual interest for our states and citizens. We discussed them at today’s meeting and are ready to continue their detailed consideration, including through intensifying bilateral contacts. We appreciated the readiness of the Russian side to intensify them, which will help strengthen the dialogue between our countries,” she said.
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