EU proposes to resume railroad traffic through Transnistria region
On Thursday, the representatives of the European Union participated in consultations in Tiraspol on problems, relating to resuming the full-fledged railroad traffic through Transnistria and put forward their proposals.
According to Transnistrian mass media, representatives of the Transnistrian Railroad Company and the Transnistrian "Ministry of Foreign Affairs" participated in the talks.
The proposals have not been unveiled for the time being, but Deputy "Ministry of Foreign Affairs" Serghei Simonenko told journalists after the meeting that these proposals were worked out in accordance with the world experience in the settlement of similar problems and will be studied by Transnistrian experts.
In his words, the proposals on resuming the traffic on the Chisinau-Odessa route contain technical moments, which call for additional investigation - these are issues, relating to security and division of powers, which are necessary for the unimpeded railroad traffic.
Simonenko underscored the importance of preserving the independency of the railroad, which crosses the region, as it is the state property of the PMR, though he recognized that because of this problem Tiraspol and Chisinau are in the deadlock in their relations.
Head of the delegation of European experts, Political Advisor to the EU Special Representatives for Moldova Mindaugas Kucherauskis said that despite the existing differences, the EU does not lose hope.
"We have also conducted a meeting with the respective Moldovan institutions and we shall continue considering possible technical options for solving this problem, he said.
The Transnistrian Railroad Company was set up in August 2004 by means of the alienation of the Bender and the Rybnitsa terminals and the section of the Moldovan Railways crossing the region. To develop its own railway Tiraspol introduced a privileged taxation - 01% from the fixed rate on each income item provided the profit is used for the logistic equipment, re-equipment and personnel encouragement. At first 4.15 million rubles ($520 thousand) were allocated for purchasing the rolling stock. The only Transnistrian diesel locomotive was bought for these resources.
Tiraspol estimated the introduction of the new transit regime for Transnistrian cargoes on the basis of the Moldovan customs clearance on the Moldo-Ukrainian border on March 3 as the economic blockade of the region. In retaliation it blocked the pass of transit trains. After this the National Railroad Company of Moldova sent trains in the circumvent of the region.
In August 2004 the law enforcement institutions of the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan Republic misappropriated eight branch sections of the National Railroad Company of Moldova and a railway track passing through the region. The Transnistrian railroad Company was set up on their basis. From that time the Transnistrian authorities began demanding payment from the Moldovan Railroad Company for the transit of trains and a registration fee from passengers. In March 2006 after the introduction of the new transit regime for Transnistrian cargoes on the basis of the Moldovan customs clearance on the Moldo-Ukrainian border Tiraspol estimated it as the economic blockade of the region. In retaliation it blocked the pass of transit trains. After this the National Railroad Company of Moldova sent trains in the circumvent of the region. As a result the Transnistrian Railroad Company is practically idle and the Transnistrian authorities do not rule out the sale of the Company.
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