EU doesn't rule out Moldova's integration into EU part by part - delegation head

CHISINAU. July 22 (Interfax) - The European Union does not rule out the possibility of Moldova's integration by parts, first the right bank of the Dniester river and then the left bank, head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Janis Mazeiks said.

"It is essential for the EU that Moldova joins the European community already reintegrated. But, at the same time, the EU does not want the country to become a hostage to a solution to the Transdniestrian conflict," Mazeiks said on AVA.TV on Monday. "Moldova cannot slow down its EU integration process only because of the unresolved conflict in Transdniestria. Therefore, we do not rule out the possibility that the right bank of the Dniester may initially join the EU, and then the left bank," he said.

Mazeiks said that he had discussed the region's security and energy at a recent meeting with leader of the unrecognized Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic Vadim Krasnoselsky.

"The EU is trying to keep in touch with the Transdniestrian region, as it is important for the EU to develop all parts of Moldova. I cannot disclose all the details of the meeting, but we always discuss security issues of the region, energy, human rights, the observance of which we closely monitor" Mazeiks said.

He added that relations with the EU were also discussed at the meetings with the Transdniestrian leadership, as "the Transdniestrian region's businesses are also participants in free trade with the EU."

"And now we see that 80% of exports from the Transdniestrian region go to the EU countries. I think this is a very good starting point to build on these relations in the future," Mazeiks said.