Today, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR Vitaly Ignatiev gave an interview to Pal Kosto, Professor of Russian Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Oslo, and Dr. Helge Blakkisrud, Professor of Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, who visited Tiraspol while preparing a series of scientific publications on unsettled conflicts in the post-Soviet space.
The foreign scientists focused on the foreign policy aspects of the Pridnestrovian state, Russian-Pridnestrovian relations, as well as on topical issues of the ongoing negotiation process with the Republic of Moldova.
During the interview Vitaly Ignatiev noted that the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic had managed to prove its ability to be a reliable and responsible participant in international relations. The Head of the PMR’s MFA emphasized that the choice of Pridnestrovie in favor of an independent vector of development had been repeatedly confirmed through all-people’s referenda.
“At the same time we should admit that we regularly face numerous challenges along this path, most of which are artificial. First of all, it regards a set of restrictive measures taken against the PMR by Moldova and Ukraine. These measures targetedly damage almost all spheres of Pridnestrovie’s functioning” – stated Vitaly Ignatiev. In this context, he expanded on such existing factors of external pressure on the republic as the problem of politically motivated criminal prosecutions of Pridnestrovians by the Republic of Moldova, numerous barriers in the field of economy, transport and freedom of movement of the PMR’s citizens.
As for the Russian-Pridnestrovian relationships, the Head of the Foreign Ministry said that the expansion of comprehensive cooperation with Russia is regarded as a key foreign policy direction of the PMR, which is also documented in the Foreign Policy Concept, new version of which was adopted in 2012.
“The course toward the rapprochement with Russia and maximum integration into the Eurasian associations is predetermined by deep historical, cultural and spiritual bonds between our peoples. People of the PMR, regardless of national identity, perceive themselves fully as a part of one big Russian world” – stressed the diplomat.
