Deputy Foreign Minister of the PMR Dmitry Palamarchuk gave an interview to a German documentary film-maker Steffi Wurster today; she visited Tiraspol within the framework of making a documentary film about the peacekeeping mission on the Dniester “Post No. 6 - The three sides of the river”. Speaking to the journalist, Dmitry Palamarchuk answered the questions about history, specific features, and principles of the Pridnestrovian state, the current state of the negotiation process between Pridnestrovie and Moldova, as well as about the functioning of the peacekeeping operation.
The deputy foreign minister briefed the German film director on the origins and foundations of the modern Pridnestrovian statehood, stressing that “Pridnestrovie is a full-fledged, functional state, as well as a responsible member of international communication, which will develop dynamically, ensuring economic, political and humanitarian rights of its people in the case of wide international recognition”.
The diplomat told about the history and the levels of the negotiation process between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. According to him, the main task of Pridnesttrovie in the dialogue with Moldovan colleagues is to make it socially oriented, with a view to achieving specific results contributing to the welfare of citizens. In this context, Dmitry Palamarchuk highly appreciated the “small steps” tactics initiated in 2012 by the Pridnestrovian side, which helped to generate real positive results.
“The situation in the field of freedom of movement, economy, education, ecology, and pension provision was improved every month in 2012-2013 due to the efforts made by the negotiators of the parties. Later, however, the Republic of Moldova preferred mechanisms of unilateral discriminatory actions to negotiations once again. And Moldova's position today, if there is one, is the neglect of negotiation tools, the nihilism in relation to the agreements achieved with Pridnestrovie, the attempt to make political concessions through the methods of economic, psychological and informational pressure. This position leads to the destruction of the foundations of the “Permanent Conference ...” and destabilization of the situation,” the deputy minister said. In this regard, he emphasized the key role of international mediators of the German Chairmanship in the OSCE in assisting the parties to achieve the effectiveness of Moldova-Pridnestrovie negotiations.
Asked about the economic activity of the republic, Dmitry Palamarchuk said that Pridnestrovie tends to support cooperation in trade and economic sphere, both with the Russian Federation and the European Union. Meanwhile, as noted by the deputy minister, the PMR faces throughout its history significant constraints in the economic sphere, artificially created by the Republic of Moldova.
“Pridnestrovie’s right to free foreign trade activities is set out in the arrangements of the negotiation process, and is confirmed by the existing international practices. In particular, there are examples of Taiwan and the Northern Cyprus, the first received the status of a separate customs territory and is part of the WTO, the second trades with the EU under its certificates. I think the Kingdom of Denmark is a clear example in the EU itself. It is a unitary state that comprises two regional entities - Greenland and the Faroe Islands – they are not part of the EU, and this position was determined by the population of these regions in a referendum, which is quite understandable and close to Pridnestrovie. Thus, the territories of the unitary Denmark got the opportunity of self-determination, not only in the economic, monetary, political, and cultural areas. Then why do Moldova and many members of the international communication deny Pridnestrovie this right,” concluded the diplomat.
During the interview, the interlocutors also touched upon the functioning of the peacekeeping operation. Dmitry Palamarchuk said to the German journalist that the main tasks of the peacekeeping mission are to maintain the ceasefire regime and to prevent the conflict from turning again to a military stage, moreover, the presence of peacekeepers “generate the very sense of security and protection which is so necessary for the post-conflict area”. In this regard, the attempts to “decline the peacekeepers”, according to the deputy minister, are considered by Pridnestrovie as negative, because they will be able to become a catalyst for possible escalation of the situation throughout the region.
“Any transformation of this operation is possible only in the context of a final and sustainable peace settlement of the relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. Until the formula has been found, it is short-sighted at least to break the framework, the foundation of peace on this earth,” concluded the diplomat.
The premiere of the film “Post No. 6 – The three sides of the river.” will take place in mid-2017.
