Interview to the Newspaper “Profsoyuznye Vesti”
Well, the period of changes in our Republic is in full swing. Since the new structure and composition of executive powers is being shaped at the current stage, the above mentioned changes primarily affect persons of this very power. The new president, new heads of ministries and institutions, new specialists in administrative teams, young and amiable individuals who are entrusted to draw the state out of deep political, economic and social crisis and handle the difficult heritage of the previous administration. Who are they, these people? What it is like to work now, in this rush season? How do they plan to work in future? Is it easy to do under careful attention of the entire population of the Republic waiting for immediate improvement of the situation in the PMR in general and in their personal life in particular? “Profsoyuznye Vesti” launches a series of publications the goal of which is to acquaint readers with new people of the new administration.
Our first guest is Minister of Foreign Affairs, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Nina Shtanski. The list of mentioned high regalia of the main diplomat of Pridnestrovie can be added also with the following: smart, intelligent, professional. And simply a beautiful woman. Other strokes to a portrait - in our interview.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is, perhaps, one of the most complex and responsible in the Republic in the light of non-recognition of our state and non-settlement of the Moldo-Pridnestrovien conflict. To build foreign policy in these terms and be able to avoid underflows and find a compromise, always bearing in mind that the question of Pridnestrovie's independence is one of the key issues to us, is not so simple. And all these have “dropped” on fragile woman's shoulders. Nina Viktorovna, how do You plan to work? Has the action program already been outlined?
- First of all, we should understand that diplomacy is such field of activity which requires continuity. And we are intended to pursue the work in those areas where it was conducted prior to my appointment for the position of a Minister. Now I am taking over the office, go deeply into job, and make adjustments.
The non-recognition status and non-settlement of the Moldova-Pridnestrovie relations, indeed, create certain isolation of the Republic from the outer world; therefore, the course towards recognition is a major one in our work. The will of the Pridnestrovien people was expressed in 2006, and goal of the foreign political office is to make so that this will would be taken into consideration in near and far abroad countries, that we would have as much possibilities as possible to voice our position from different international platforms, bring aspirations of our people to the world community.
This is how I see priority goals of the Foreign Ministry, but certainly it is not the end of it. We are intended to step up work to facilitate other state authorities in carrying out external contacts. Let's take, for example, the Ministry of Economic Development – issues of foreign economic activity are of great importance today. And though such matters often lie outside the competence of the MFA, we can still administer in their solution, render assistance in establishing contacts with state authorities of other countries and economic agents.
These are very important points, because here we mean investment climate, image of our Republic, our openness and ability to be understandable for our external partners.
- Once ex-chef of the MFA Litskai told Pridnestrovie, in his view, would gain recognition after 30 years of its independence. 20 years has already passed, but it doesn't look like we are approaching recognition. To Your mind, can this question be indeed resolved in 10 years? Or do You have Your own prediction?
- I wouldn't make any predictions and narrow the question of recognition of the Republic by concrete time limits. It is the rake that not only diplomats but many politicians and public figures stepped on. Basing on their vast experience I won't repeat this mistake. We don't make predictions – we work to approach this moment as much as possible.
- Our small Republic is squeezed between Ukraine and Moldova, and whether we want it or not, we have to “be friends” with these countries. What is the MFA's concept as to development of relations with the nearest neighbors?
- There is an evident and clear course defined by the President of our Republic and it was indicated by him as far back as in his inauguration speech, and it is the concept of good neighborhood. We have neighbors, and we need to build really good relations with them. We remember that Pridnestrovie's well-being in many ways depends on the atmosphere in which our relations with neighbors are developing. Our citizens travel both to Moldova and Ukraine, many enterprises have commercial ties with these countries, many people have their relatives there. Certainly, we would like our dialogue with Moldova and Ukraine to be constructive, open and positive. We will try to do everything possible for this and intensify contacts with these countries.
- What aspects will be emphasized?
- We are trying to make such a dialogue, which will lead us to settlement of practical problems in social, economic, humanitarian fields, especially with our Moldavian colleagues.
- Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yastrebchak vocalized the possibility of creating the group of experts at the Ministry, which would consist of specialists of different profiles. They would analyze the questions of foreign policy, develop the advices and offers. Do You support this idea?
- Indeed, there are certain proposals at the Ministry about the creation of public council of experts, but it is hard to say now, how it will be instituted. Such council provides for the cooperation between nongovernmental organizations, academic circles, scholars, political scientists, sociologists, etc. We don't have a surplus of high qualified personnel in the Republic, and every single specialist in these certain fields is of demand and we are expecting productive cooperation with them.
Of course, we are interested in cooperation with the civil society institutes. Even more, we are certainly will be doing it. In the nearest future we will vocalize our initiatives. We have plans for creation of council of young diplomats and we are going to recruit young students and to establish cooperation of our council with the council of young diplomats in Russia.
Besides, we have plans to create press club. We want to take an unusual way, to leave the tradition of holding only briefings when journalists ask the questions and the leadership of the Ministry answers them. We are interested in the journalist's opinion on the international climate, on the initiatives which exist and are discussed. We would like to hear open critics of our work. Such a format appears to be very effective (useful), because journalists are the people who often look upon the situation with fresh perspective, not as we do while carrying out our professional duties.
- Work as a Minister of Foreign Affairs takes much time, and You also lecture at two universities. Are You going to leave the teaching because of Your new obligations?
- I am not sure if I will be able to lecture further. Even now, because of objective reasons, I had to reduce much of the teaching load and to abandon to teach several subjects.
Nevertheless, I promised my students to keep in touch with them. This can take form of different round tables, conferences, passing practical trainings. It is very important for me to contact with young people, it is always like a sip of fresh water. Maybe such longing for teaching I inherited from my mother – she is also a teacher.
As for the loads, there was time when I had to postpone all the lectures on Saturday and had seven lessons a day.
- Did MFA preserve the core of former staff, or You came with a new team?
- Good question. We had to make certain staff reductions; this is common state policy – it concerns all bodies of state power in reduction of functionary apparat. MFA is not an exception. I want to notice that reduction touched upon not only the departments, but also leading staff. For example there will be two Deputy Ministers, not three, as it was earlier. At the same time we managed to preserve basic core of staff of institution. Head of departments, people involved in activity on foreign policy directions, employees of financial and legal departments of the Ministry continue to work.
I am pleased, that collective welcomed me. From my side I am interested in creation of favourable conditions for their work in order to make this work more interesting and to transform collective into the team of professionals, holding the same views.
- New leadership of the Republic became much younger; furthermore many women took leading posts, women-politicians, women-ministers. How do You evaluate such tendency?
- Recently I visited one international conference, and I can say that women were presented there in sufficient quantity, so not only our country has such a tendency. In Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, on Slavic territory of Europe, for example in Bulgaria, there are many women-politics.
I know those women, who hold the posts of Ministers, heads of governmental offices, departments of our Republic, for many years – we worked together for ten years in Supreme Soviet. Practically we were students when we began our work in bodies of power, but we did not have time for procrastination; situation in Republic was always difficult; and we ought to work. And we worked – sometimes one worked for three, we decided both organizational and technical issues and overworked before the important sittings of the Supreme Soviet until 11 p.m…. The word “idleness” does not exist for these people. It would seem – what can those young people do? But they had 10 years of experience of hard working in state sector. Besides, they recently graduated and possess fresh and topical knowledge.
Prime-Minister Stepanov expressed right opinion in his interview to First Republican Channel: “There are young people in new government, who have a little bit different point of view on the situation, the think a little different, they received contemporary education and they are counterbalanced by people of more mature age. Combination of experience and young energy must result in a good way.”
- Nina Viktorovna, You are politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs, lecturer of very difficult academic disciplines in institutions of higher education, Ambassador Extraordinary, but, firstly You are woman, mother. Our readers will get to know something also about your private life with interest…
- All the things you enumerated became possible, because my loving family, people who understand and support me even if I face hard times, are waiting for me at home. They inspired and inspire me to make creative deeds, scientific work; I would not have succeeded without my family. Yes, I am a mother, and I try to be caring mother. My daughter is twelve years old, I watch her growing up, and I am proud of her. When I look at her, I understand that in my childhood I wanted to be exactly like her.
- When she is asked, who does she want to become, does she answers that she wants to be a Minister like her mother?
- When she was a baby, I worked as political advisor to Chairman of the Supreme Soviet, one day my baby said: “I want to be an architect, but for this purpose I will have to study very much and even study abroad, if I do not succeed, I will hold a position similar to my mother's.” Of course now she does not tell such things, but sequentially, from her childhood, she wants to be a designer, architect.
- We understand, that Minister of Foreign Affairs has almost no free time; especially now, during such a rush period, but if you have some free time, do you afford yourself to rest, for example with a book? If it is so, what book lies on your bedside table?
- I am afraid, if I answer this question, my rating in the eyes of readers will go down, and it will go down dramatically… (laughs). The case is that I am at the fifth year of the postgraduate course, this year I will defend my dissertation. I will tell you the truth, in the current moment I have “Methodology of Analysis of International Situations” by Mark Khrustalev on my bedside table.
- But such book surely helps to fall asleep faster…
- What is to be done? I have to read scientific literature, directly connected with my professional activity, with teaching activity, in order to make my lectures more educational for students. I have not read fiction books for ages, though I am fond of Bulgakov, Pushkin, Lermontov. But unfortunately I do not have time.
- What are the life principles that help You to go through life?
- To labor much, never to give up, never to betray, to be honest and to be capable to compassionate.
Interview by Zhanna Myazina
