Today the PMR’s MFA hosted a meeting between Deputy Chairperson of the Government of the PMR for International Cooperation, Foreign Minister Nina Shtanski and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the FRG to the RM Ulrike Knotz. Taking part in the meeting was also Representative of the German Society for International Cooperation Mircea Ursu.
Nina Shtanski welcomed the Ambassador of the FRG, who visited the Foreign Ministry of the republic for the first time today, and highly appreciated the readiness of the German side to continue bilateral contacts on the whole range of areas.
“We highly appreciate the cooperation with Germany as an important trade and economic partner: only this year our export and import turnover amounted to more than 100 million dollars. Germany is the most important member of the European Union which plays a special role in the diplomatic sphere. In this regard Pridnestrovie also appreciates those efforts that the country takes to support the direct dialogue of Pridnestrovie and Moldova, as well as expert interaction between the parties. Our cooperation in the cultural sphere is developing actively: exhibitions of German artists, concerts, film festivals, - all this receive a very good response from the public,” – said the Diplomat.
During the meeting the sides paid a key attention to the current stage of the project of reconstruction and modernization of water treatment and water supply systems in Dubossary district. We remind that the initiative concerning the reconstruction of treatment facilities was put forward by the Pridnestrovian side in 2012, but did not receive a response from international partners. As early as 2013 the German side expressed the willingness to provide financial assistance for the project, at the initiative of which the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), that has experience in the realization of such projects, joined the project.
On November 26, 2013 in Kiev within the framework of the 5+2 meeting at the initiative of the Pridnestrovian side the Protocol Decision on the implementation of the project of the reconstruction of the treatment facilities in Dubossary and collector system in Kriulyany was signed. This document created the political basis for the launching of the project and involving subject matter specialists of Pridnestrovie and Moldova, and at the end of the year representatives of the parties began consultations with organizational assistance of the GIZ.
In the course of the meeting the GIZ Representative Mircea Ursu presented a preliminary project concept which was based on the conclusion of international experts prepared following the pre-feasibility study conducted in 2014 of the current state of water treatment facilities and water disposal system, as well as the works on collection and analysis of relevant technical information.
“The project covers both Dubossary, and a large number of surrounding villages, thus, a large number of people will benefit from its implementation. The water-supply and water disposal systems in this district were constructed more than fifty, and in some cases more than seventy years ago and they are in poor condition which deprives people of the opportunity to get decent quality water, besides the situation poses a serious threat to the Dniester River. Thus, we believe this project is socially important and economically optimal, moreover, important for the environment. Today we have specified three options that were proposed by international experts with the participation of experts from Pridnestrovie, which were included at all stages of the study. We have received additional clarifications and gave the German side our comments,” – said Nina Shtanski during communication with the media after the meeting.
In the near future the German side will be sent a detailed conclusion and comments of the Pridnestrovian experts concerning the concept proposed by the GIZ, after which the parties will be ready to begin detailed work on technical conditions and stages of the project implementation.
“The Pridnestrovian side expressed its principled readiness to implement the project. All aspects will be put on record in a separate document which we are further intended to agree upon and approve,” – noted the Head of the Foreign Ministry.
In her turn, Ulrike Maria Knotz highly appreciated the level of awareness of the Pridnestrovian side of the technical aspects of the initiative and expressed confidence that the current dynamics of the interaction will continue in the future.
“I was very glad to learn in the course of today's meeting that the experts had carried out a big fact-finding work and had studied in detail the project. I am sure we will continue to work in this positive and constructive way,”- she said.
