This was the statement of the Deputy Chairperson of the Government of the PMR for International Cooperation, Foreign Minister Nina Shtanski during an interview with the special correspondent of RBC TV-Channel in the context of increasing blockade measures by Ukraine against Pridnestrovie.
Responding to the reporter’s question about whether the appointment of Mikhail Saakashvili the governor of the Odessa region is a security risk for the country, Nina Shtanski noted that the current situation itself in Ukraine “hits Pridnestrovie very hard”. “Coordinated blockade actions of Moldova and Ukraine began having a systemic nature, and, obviously, they lead to extremely negative consequences for us”, the Minister said with regret.
The Foreign Minister noted that the ongoing blockade restrictions of the Pridnestrovian export through the territory of Ukraine, including to the Russian Federation, was followed by the blockade of imports. “Now import of excise goods, including raw materials, which we urgently need, is completely stopped. Food import to the republic is seriously complicated, that is, in fact, we are already talking about food security of Pridnestrovie. There are evidently Ukraine’s efforts to promote the submission of Pridnestrovie to the legal framework of Moldova, but for more than 20 years we have been having talks with Moldova to lift the blockade sanctions”, said the diplomat.
During the interview, Nina Shtanski emphasized residents of Odessa region has always been more than the neighbours for Pridnestrovians. “We have traditionally fraternal kinship, and any unrest there, in Odessa or the Mykolaiv regions, of course, we perceive with concern as well. What we see now in the media, on the Internet, and what inhabitants of Odessa share, of course, do not give a reason for the positive. The people there are worried. I find it difficult to comment on the recent appointment, but we see that the situation is becoming less predictable, “the Minister noted with regret.
During the dialogue Nina Shtanski drew the journalist’s attention to the fact that the number of military officers on the Pridnestrovian-Ukrainian border is in fact growing day by day. “It is obvious to everyone who is on the Pridnestrovian border: tent camps are being built, soldiers are being positioned. Imagine how much Pridnestrovians are alarmed, especially those who live next to the border with Ukraine,” noted the Head of the Foreign Ministry.
Speaking about the peacekeeping operation on the Dniester, Nina Shtanski pointed out again that the peacekeeping mission on the Dniester is the most effective one in the world. “Besides the fact that within this peacekeeping operation the contingents of the two conflicting parties are united, i.e. Russian, Pridnestrovian, Moldovan and Ukrainian peacekeepers serve together, this operation has one more distinctive feature – during 23 years of its maintaining people have not been dying. No shot has been here, and this is the most effective peace guaranty,” emphasized the Minister. She noted that Pridnestrovian citizens are very thankful to the Russian Federation for its firm and consistent position regarding the maintaining of the existing peacekeeping format despite the Ukrainian denouncement of the agreement with Russia “On transit of military personnel of the RF through the Ukrainian territory to Pridnestrovie”.
“If we don’t provide military personnel, who are keeping peace here in this region, with all necessary things, then functions of the peacekeeping operation may be seriously restricted. The authors of this initiative are most likely to pursue this particular aim. This aim is to isolate the peacekeeping operation as much as possible in order to make it non-functional. In fact the aim they pursue towards Pridnestrovie itself and Pridnestrovian economy is the same: to isolate, to strangle, to deprive it of the most necessary things, to deprive it of supplies in order “to get the ripe fruit fallen into their mouth on its own,” noted Nina Shtanski.
Besides, the Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pridnestrovie reminded again that Ukraine participates in the peacekeeping operation on the Dniester, is the country-guarantor in the negation process and the mediator in the “5+2” format. “We hope that in the political circles of Ukraine the common sense, logical thinking and, finally, wisdom will prevail. We are neighbours, and our interests regarding peacekeeping, stability, safety, control of poverty and unregulated migration are closely interconnected. Surely, we hope that our call for peace will be heard in Ukraine,” the Minister expressed the hope.
Discussing the losses which Pridnestrovian economy has faced during the blockade on the part of Ukraine, Nina Shtanski noted that when a mediator takes the side of one of the conflict participants, then this mediator becomes in fact a side of the conflict. “Poverty increasing in Pridnestrovie does not contribute to the progress in negotiations. The latest blockade actions by Ukraine led to such a situation that if, for example, we compare our economic performance in the last month with the one in May last year, we will see that our general export has decreased by more than 20%. These losses are enormous for our budget which depends on export. We live off the foreign trade of the domestic high-quality production,” said the diplomat.
“If we have a look at our budget revenues, we will see that the revenues in May this year decreased by 45% of the whole amount. And it affects every single Pridnestrovian citizen, because in these conditions we have to reduce wages and pensions. People’s wages are being reduced by 30%, and this is a painful impact for many people. The blockade also leads to the decreasing of business activity and overall production, to the loss of markets, including the markets in Ukraine. All these facts are worsening the situation even more and more. And what else is important is that besides these difficulties the situation is getting less controlled,” stated with regret Nina Shtanski.
Speaking about the Russian Federation support in the current situation difficult for Pridnestrovie, the Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that Russia is a big support to the republic. “It is difficult to imagine what could have been here if not the Russian presence. Besides the peacekeeping operation Russia provides us with sufficient humanitarian and financial aid,” pointed out the diplomat. She also reminded the journalist of RBK-TV that day, on June 1, on the Child Protection Day, in Pridnestrovie three new kindergartens in Tiraspol, Bendery and Sukleia were opened on the initiative of the Russian President V.V. Putin. “They are equipped in accordance with the latest technological standards, and these institutions of social infrastructure alongside many other facilities, which are being built now in Pridnestrovie, are being constructed within the ANO “Eurasian Integration” throughout the republic. These are kindergartens, schools, hospitals, maternity centers – that is what is necessary here for the people to live a decent life and what we can’t afford to build on our own in these blockade conditions,” said the Head of the Foreign Ministry.
“Today a teleconference Tiraspol-Moscow has been held, and the President of the PMR Yevgeny Shevchuk warmly thanked the Russian leadership and in person the Vice-President, Special Representative of the Russian President for Pridnestrovie Dmitry Rogozin for the help and contribution to the Pridnestrovian children’s welfare. In a word – he thanked Russia for our future,” concluded Nina Shtanski.
