Deputy Prime Minister, Cristina Lesnic, kept the balance between citizens’ interests and non-admission for the situation in the Security Zone to escalate

The Bureau for Reintegration had a pro-active and people-centered approach during the pandemic. The priorities were related to solving citizens’ problems caused by Tiraspol and non- admission for the situation in the Security Zone to escalate, stated the Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, Cristina Lesnic, during a briefing today.

According to the official, both systemic and individual cases were addressed, while about 400 complaints from residents and local public administration from the Security Zone were received. Problems related to farmers’ access to land, salaries payment of teachers from schools teaching in Romanian in the Transnistrian region, accommodation of the medical staff in localities on the right bank of Nistru and many other issues were solved.

The concern remains that the mobile checkpoints, illegally installed by Tiraspol, could turn into stationary posts. “We ascertain with regret that the pandemic was used by Tiraspol to resort to provocative actions in the Security Zone and, in general, to a destructive behavior, accompanied by invectives and massive public propaganda. Probably, they thought to take advantage of the relationship with Chisinau, in order to self-isolate even more and create new false topics on the negotiating agenda”, said Cristina Lesnic.

In regards to unilateral installation of the 37 illegal checkpoints by the Transnistrian side, all the communication channels, including the diplomatic ones, were used to inform human rights partners and institutions about the perception and potential for tension in the Security Zone, arguing that these are not sanitary posts, but border forces, which self-attribute inappropriate tasks. In this context, the Bureau for Reintegration brought this subject to the attention of mediators and observers in Transnistrian settlement, and to the international community interested on the Transnistrian issue. The Government urged the OSCE Mission to monitor events on the spot and to intervene promptly in situations that may escalate following Tiraspol’s unilateral actions. 

Cristina Lesnic specified that many of these developments have exceeded the prerogatives of the Bureau for Reintegration and require the intervention of other competent authorities to qualify Tiraspol's actions. “I did not give up the 5+2 meeting, I also did not give up the topic announced earlier and I did not give up the discussion on human rights. Our only interest is to unblock the situation, so that the 320 thousand citizens do not suffer, while the measures should be effective and not declarative”, mentioned the Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration.

At the same time, she noted with satisfaction Parliament's interest in the Transnistrian file and expressed hope for a constructive approach in support of the Government's actions, which has so far been left without attention in the context of a potential large crisis. Lesnic encouraged MPs not to use the Transnistrian issue in their political agendas and party interests, so as not to further strain the situation. On the contrary, she welcomed the initiative to set up a Working Group at Parliament's level and was open to providing all the expertise of the Bureau for Reintegration that would enhance dialogue and identify solutions.