Commenting on a journalist's question about the current state of the negotiation process in the “5+2” format, Nina Shtanski noted that, despite the serious degradation of relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova in 2014, in general, since the resumption of negotiations in 2012, very tangible for social and economic interaction and people’s well-being results have been achieved.
“The full-scale freight railway communication was resumed, which was paralyzed for six years, because of which economic relations and interests of concrete business entities both of Pridnestrovie and Moldova suffered seriously. We were able to establish a systematic dialogue on the Romanian schools located in Pridnestrovie, as well as on the sensitive issue on nostrification and validation of Pridnestrovian documents on education. Although these problems have not yet found a comprehensive resolution, solutions to specific aspects either are found, or are at the stage of active and substantive consultations. Such projects as removing from Pridnestrovie ionizing radiation sources, obsolete and waste pesticides, dismantling industrial emergency cable car were also implemented. An important step towards building confidence was the solution, which was achieved in the framework of negotiations, to the problem on freedom of movement for the Pridnestrovian inhabitants, who do not have passports of Moldova. So, being citizens of Russia, Ukraine and other countries, they were subjected to administrative prosecution when crossing the Moldovan border, and therefore they could not use Moldovan airport or trains which went to the Russian Federation and Ukraine bypassing Pridnestrovie. Significant progress in terms of the removal of blocking restrictions for Pridnestrovians companies was the abolition of customs clearance payments for Pridnestrovian export and import, as well as discriminatory excise tax on import of Pridnestrovie. All this would not have been solved without direct interaction between Moldova and Pridnestrovie,” - stressed the Diplomat.
However, according to Nina Shtanski, just one year after the restart of the negotiations it became apparent that the Moldovan partners were not ready for the new, in terms of coordinated approaches,format of works that was reflected in returning to dialogue, not in the diplomatic language – in the language of threats, pressure, sanctions and blackmail. The head of the Pridnestrovian diplomacy did not rule out that such a deliberately provocative aggravation of Pridnestrovian- Moldovan relations pursues the obvious financial and economic aims.
“This demarche will allow Moldova continues to attract wide international attention, and, therefore, receive very tangible financial benefits. It is no secret that Moldova ranks first in Europe in terms of international financial assistance, a significant proportion of which is used for the purposes of conflict resolution and confidence-building measures,” – she noted.
One of the topics of conversation with the Ukrainian journalist was a foreign policy of Pridnestrovie. In this context, Nina Shtanski refuted a widespread misconception that the independence and joining Russia - this is how people of Pridnestrovie determined their own future through a referendum - contradict each other.
“In accordance with the provisions of international law, joining Russia is possible only in the status of a recognized independent state. Thus, the recognition of our independence and joining Russia seem to us to be interrelated. We are oriented towards independence and subsequent free joining the Russian Federation. Pridnestrovian people expressed their will in a national referendum in 2006 in this way,” – said the Minister.
The diplomat also emphasized that the Pridnestrovian state cannot have the other way, and “civilized divorce” with Moldova seems today the most optimal format of the final settlement of the conflict.
The full text of the interview is published on pages of the Internet-portal “the Mirror of Crimea”.
