Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR Vitaly Ignatiev had a meeting with Ukrainian journalists in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PMR who have visited Pridnestrovie within the framework of a three-day press tour. The delegation was composed of editor in chief of the Pravo newspaper of the Union of Lawyers of Ukraine, member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Volodymyr Muzichenko, member of the National Union of Writers of Ukraine, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, chief editor of the newspaper «Emanu-El» David Zonis, press-secretary of the Shipowners Association of Ukraine Alexander Fyodorov and director of the public utility of the Odessa City Council Violetta Evtushek.
The purpose of the tour is getting an objective understanding of actual processes taking place around and in Pridnestrovie. The interviews with Head of State Administration of cities Tiraspol and Dnestrovsk Andrei Bezbabchenko, Deputy Minister of the Economic Development of the PMR Dmitry Boltrushko, Chairman of the Union of Moldavians of Pridnestrovie Valerian Tulgara, Chairman of the Republican public organization “Ukrprosvita” Vladimir Bodnar, Chairman of the Public Chamber of the PMR Sergei Smirichinsky were scheduled to be held.
Asked about the situation in the sphere of foreign economic activity of the country, Vitaly Ignatiev said that Pridnestrovie’s economy is traditionally export-oriented in nature, which makes it extremely sensitive to external impacts. In this regard, there are a number of external factors that negatively impact on economic development. Unfortunately, the negative impact of the structural economic crisis of external and regional nature was added by new restrictive actions in relation to the economic agents of Pridnestrovie on the part of Moldova and Ukraine.
“For our part, we consider the creation of optimal conditions for development of the economy of Pridnestrovie as one of the priorities. From an objective point of view, both Moldovan and Ukraine partners of Pridnestrovie should be interested in the development of mutual trade turnover. But, unfortunately, there are a number of politically motivated problems that do not allow us to talk about the positive dynamics, especially for the last year and a half,” - said Vitaly Ignatiev.
The Pridnestrovian diplomat reminded the representatives of the Ukrainian mass media that since March 2014 the Ukrainian side introduced a number of restrictions on crossing the border for the citizens of the Russian Federation aged between 16 and 60 – the so called operation “border” which is of unlimited duration.
Vitaly Ignatiev also emphasized that the normalization of trade and economic relations between border areas of Ukraine and Pridnestrovie could contribute to the implementation of previously signed agreements. “I would like to remind that Pridnestrovie has specific agreements on trade-economic and scientific-technical cooperation with Vinnitsa and Odessa regions. The agreement with the Vinnitsa region was signed in 1997, with the Odessa region - in 1998. It can be assumed that as many years ago, the objective to develop economic and trade ties is highly relevant now not only for Pridnestrovie, but also for the Ukrainian side,” - said the deputy minister.
Vitaly Ignatiev stressed the importance to adhere to the conceptual document regulating relations between the parties within the framework of Moldova-Pridnestrovie settlement. The diplomat reminded Ukrainian reporters about the Memorandum of 1997 on the Bases for Normalization of Relations between Moldova and Pridnestrovie signed by all parties to the negotiation process. “The document clearly indicates the right of Pridnestrovie to independent foreign economic, scientific-technical and cultural activities. Following this core document dozens of agreements were signed, including bilateral ones with the Russian Federation, as well as with the Moldovan and Ukrainian partners. But, unfortunately, these basic fundamentals are now unilaterally violated,” – highlighted Vitaly Ignatiev.
Answering the question about the prospects of cooperation of the Pridnestrovian and Moldovan sides, Vitaly Ignatiev said the following: “There is a hope that our partners will have common sense, and for the understanding of the norms of civilized dialogue. We have this hope, it never dies”, - the diplomat noted.
Vitaly Ignatiev said that today the main task of the Foreign Ministry of Pridnestrovie is to create, preferably, optimal conditions for normal trade, free activity of economic agents of Pridnestrovie, which, certainly, is mutually beneficial since there is a long-term positive experience of economic cooperation with Ukrainian and Moldovan partners.
“We understand that the trade free from artificial restrictions and good economic ties are a foundation for common progress and creation of positive social environment of comprehensive development of society. The Pridnestrovian side is interested in building normal good-neighbourly relations both with Moldova and Ukraine,” - concluded Vitaly Ignatiev.
