Presidents of Moldova and Ukraine Asking European Union to Help Monitor the Border

CHISINAU, Moldova -- The Presidents of Moldova and Ukraine, Vladimir Voronin and Victor Yushenko, have stood up with a joint address to European Commission Chairman Jose Manuel Durao Barroso and the EU Foreign & Security Policy Chief Javier Solana concerning the European Union's participation in technical equipping of the Moldo-Ukrainian border and organization of international monitoring of the border's Transnistrian segment.


Presidents Victor Yushchenko (L) and Vladimir Voronin
The two Presidents signed the Joint Address on Thursday during their meeting held at the Yaski border-crossing station in the Odessa oblast of Ukraine. They achieved an accord on demarcation of the Moldo-Ukrainian border, and on unfolding, starting from July 1st 2005, five joint customs and border-guard stations outside the Transnistrian segment. Within 10 days, the two Governments will re-assess existing bilateral problems, including the export of Ukrainian electricity to the Balkans via Moldova, said Vladimir Voronin.

In his opinion, the bilateral problems, which have accumulated during the 14 years of each other's independence, "are quite soluble in a constructive way, with observance of each other's interests, proceeding from the friendly relations existing between the Presidents of Moldova and Ukraine".

Vladimir Voronin highly appreciated the Ukraine-offered Plan of Transnistria problem settlement, pointing out that by acting jointly with Kiev and international organizations, the chances to resolve the conflict will indeed increase.

He said the Moldovan Parliament, to sit together with Government next week, will consider a detailed report on the Transnistria conflict. Voronin is going to take floor at that assembly and present a report on the Yushenko Plan.

The Ukrainian President said at the final news conference yesterday, the Yaski meeting reaffirmed the two countries' political will to settle the Transnistria conflict and other problems remaining between Moldova and Ukraine. Victor Yushenko voiced content that his Plan found understanding both by Moldova and international organizations.

"The Transnistria conflict is a political conflict, so it has to be solved by using political means. I've got an impression that Tiraspol authorities are assessing the Ukraine's initiative positively", said President Yushenko.

On his request, the Secretary of the Ukrainian Council of National Security and Defense, Peter Poroshenko, is visiting Tiraspol today, discussing the Yushenko Plan with Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov.

The two Presidents signed a Protocol-Agreement "On Reciprocal Access of Commodities to the Markets of Moldova and Ukraine". The official Kiev presumes that "by signing the Protocol, the Moldovan side has revoked its former claims to Ukraine". This has brought Ukraine substantially closer to accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Earlier, Victor Yushenko strongly criticized his Cabinet of Ministers for too slow a preparation to joining the WTO. Ukraine strongly hopes that the European Union will grant to it the full status of a market-economy country yet before the EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council to be held on June 13.

The Republic of Moldova, a WTO member since 2001, has many times voiced discontent that Ukraine restricts access of Moldovan goods to the Ukrainian market in contravention of the bilateral Free Trade Treaty. In conformity with the latest accords, the restrictions will be lifted from the moment of Ukraine's joining the World Trade Organization.

Source: Moldova Azi