Moldova may join EU without Transdniestria - Moldovan president

CHISINAU. Oct 27 (Interfax) - Moldova may integrate with the European Union without Transdniestria, Moldovan President Maia Sandu has said.

"The ideal option is to join the EU as a reintegrated country, that is, the right and left banks [of the Dniester]. If that doesn't happen, if it's impossible for some reason, there is also the option of integration of the right bank with the EU and then the left one," the president said in an interview with Vocea Basarabiei television on Friday.

Sandu said joining the EU is a national priority for Moldova and the process should take place in parallel with the settlement of the Transdniestrian conflict.

"How realistic the country's reintegration is, of course, depends on the geopolitical context. And we hope that a geopolitical opportunity to carry out this plan will appear. The main task now is to maintain stability on both banks of the Dniester to prevent the country from being drawn into a war," Sandu said.

Speaking about the situation with the Transdniestrian Republic, Sandu said she believes there is no conflict between the residents of the two banks of the Dniester, but "there is a separatist regime that is supported by Moscow and pursues certain goals." "It's very unfair that people from the right and left banks of the Dniester are being prevented from travelling freely. All these things should be condemned. We need to get rid of this separatist regime, then we can reintegrate our country," Sandu said.

The talks on a Transdniestrian settlement in the 5+2 format are not effective, Sandu said. She suggested the EU play a more active role in them because Moldova is being integrated with the EU.