There is no issue around Palanca, there are only agreements reached years ago within the decisions regarding the border regime. What happened recently is only the technical enforcement of these older commitments. The statement was made on Thursday, in Chisinau, by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Constantin Griscenko, during a press conference held together with his Moldovan counterpart Iurie Leanca, Info-Prim Neo reports. “We are happy the decision was finally taken, although belatedly, but according to the agreements stipulated in documents without which bilateral relationships couldn’t develop”, said the Ukrainian official. He added that when an accord is signed, it must be respected. Iurie Leanca said that he spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart so that the agreements were respected and there would be no problems for inhabitants of Palanca villages who have lands beyond the segment of road ceded to Ukraine. He also thought about solutions to allow the villagers to do some business without infringing the customs regime. “Most importantly, we discussed about creating a cross-border cooperation mechanism in the border regions of Moldova and Ukraine in order to make the most of the commercial potential”, stressed Iurie Leanca. Constantin Griscenko noted it was important that the border regime was favorable for citizens of both countries. “Our dialogue concerns the expansion of economic cooperation in border regions and within Euroregions. We have a whole set of decisions to make. That’s why we will organize consultations with experts as soon as possible”, declared the Ukrainian Foreign Minister. Before the conference, the two officials signed the Declaration of cooperation for European integration. They announced the decision to organize a meeting of the joint commission for economic cooperation after a 5-year pause. Regarding the Transnistrian conflict, Iurie Leanca appreciated the Ukrainian side’s position, which pleaded for the settlement of the conflict only by respecting Moldova’s territorial integrity. Constantin Griscenko assured Moldova it could count on Ukraine’s active involvement in the settlement process. He added that Kiev was negotiating with both Chisinau and Tiraspol to resume 5+2 negotiations. The inhabitants of Palanca village organized a protest last week, worried their access to lands on the other side of the highway sector ceded to Ukraine could be restricted. The border change is part of an agreement signed 10 years ago. Their concerns increased after last week Moldova and Ukraine began installing border marks.