Vitaly Ignatiev participated in the international conference organized by the State University, dedicated to the launching of the political negotiation process, with a lecture: “A 30-year Experience of the Negotiation Process between the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and the Republic of Moldova: Retrospective and Current Problems”.
The Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting of PMR Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev with the head of the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Doris El Doueihy.
Opening the dialogue, Vitaly Ignatiev informed the guests about the destructive actions of the Moldovan authorities with regard to the functioning of the healthcare system in Pridnestrovie. In particular, the politically motivated blockade of imports of medicines and medical equipment into the country is still in place.
On 17 March, a military air base in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic was attacked by a kamikaze drone, causing a fire and destruction of military property.
We condemn this terrorist act, as well as any similar actions that jeopardize people’s lives, peace and security on the banks of the Dniester River. This is a challenge for all states that are truly interested in regional stability.
Foreign Diplomats Learnt about Losses of Pridnestrovie Resulting from Moldovan Customs Duties
Today, an online event was held with the participation of representatives of foreign diplomatic missions accredited in Chisinau dedicated to the issue of Moldova’s economic pressure on Pridnestrovie. The presentation “Imposition of Customs Duties by the Republic of Moldova: Current Damage, Risks and Threats” was delivered by the head of the expert (working) group for economic issues, Minister of Economic Development of the PMR, Sergey Obolonik.
The Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting of PMR Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev with the British Ambassador. The diplomats continued the discussion started with the PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky.
The Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting of PMR Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev with EUBAM Head Slawomir Pichor.
The unjustified imposition of customs duties by Moldova on Pridnestrovian economic operators was the major topic.
The PMR Foreign Minister stressed that Moldova’s new restrictions resulted in double taxation and became an additional burden for Pridnestrovian business. He characterized the repressive measures by Moldova as an element of economic warfare.
The Foreign Ministry received a delegation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
During the working discussion, the UNHCR representatives shared information on their current activities on the territory of Pridnestrovie. In particular, attention was paid to the implementation of several projects aimed at the protection and support of refugees. In this context, the sides discussed the prospects and parameters of bilateral cooperation this year.
At the end of the meeting, the sides agreed to keep working contacts on issues of mutual interest.
Earlier, the Foreign Ministry informed about an initiative to hold a meeting of expert (working) groups in order to discuss the accumulated problems related to Moldova’s restrictive measures, as well as the issue of land use in the Dubossary district of the PMR.
The Moldovan delegation refused to come to Tiraspol on the previously agreed date. The Foreign Ministry considers this approach as an evasion of dialogue on the pressing agenda, indicating a disregard for the available negotiation tools and the problems faced by people and economic agents.
Today, the Foreign Ministry hosted the meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandr Stetsiuk and the IOM delegation headed by Programme Coordinator Margherita Vismara.
During the meeting, the sides discussed the current state of affairs in Pridnestrovie, as well as the external situation. Special attention was paid to the current activities of the OHCHR and its medium-term plans.
The PMR Foreign Ministry informs about sending an initiative to the Moldovan side on holding a session of Expert (Working) Groups on Economic Issues in a face-to-face format at the OSCE Tiraspol Office on 8 February 2024.
The Pridnestrovian side proposed the following agenda:
- unfair charging of customs duties and payments on the PMR economic operators, provoking an economic, social and humanitarian crisis in the republic;
- blocking export supplies of the PMR industrial enterprises;
Today, representatives of the Pridnestrovian relevant agencies met with Moldovan land users who cultivate agricultural land in the Dubossary District of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
The meeting was initiated by the Pridnestrovian side to inform the farmers about some aspects of using agricultural land, taking into account the Decision “On Settlement of Land Use Issues in Dubossary District” adopted by the PMR Government on 8 January 2024.
On 24 January 2024, a session of Expert (Working) Groups on Health Issues was held in the videoconference format. The Pridnestrovian side initiated it to discuss significant issues of public health protection. In particular, the parties touched upon the importing medicines for healthcare and prevention institutions and pharmaceutical chains in Pridnestrovie, as well as importing X-ray equipment necessary for prompt diagnosis of diseases, including tuberculosis.
On 22 January 2024, when returning to her permanent place of residence and work in Pridnestrovie, a PMR citizen, the chair of the Tiraspol City Court, Anna Constantinovna Mamei, was deported by Moldovan law enforcement authorities.
On 22 January 2019, the Official Representative Office of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in the Russian Federation opened in Moscow.
The key tasks assigned to the new PMR foreign institution were to deepen comprehensive relations with Russia and to tune systematic work with the Pridnestrovian diaspora living there. Leonid Manakov, an experienced lawyer, vice-president of the Russian Lawyers Guild and former first deputy minister of Internal Affairs of the PMR, was appointed its head.
Pridnestrovian Foreign Ministry hosted the working meeting between Minister Vitaly Ignatiev and Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Abkhazia in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Alexander Vataman.
Today, on the initiative of the United Nations, a meeting between PMR Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandr Stetsiuk and a UN delegation headed by Peace and Development Advisor Kristin Jenssen was held at the Foreign Ministry.
The dialogue focused on the current situation in the negotiation process, as well as the difficulties in the foreign economic activity of Pridnestrovian enterprises resulting from the new customs duties imposed by Moldova on 1 January this year. Possible scenarios of further developments were considered.
Vitaly Ignatiev and Oleg Serebrian met at the Office of the OSCE Mission to Moldova in the presence of mediators and observers.
Opening the first meeting since 20 June last year, the PMR Foreign Minister criticized Moldova’s measures to claim customs duties from Pridnestrovian enterprises stressing the interest in maintaining conditions for peaceful dialogue. In that regard, approaches of the OSCE Head of Mission were supported who noted that fair communication reduces the risks of escalation.
I turn to the leadership of the Republic of Moldova.
The reason for my address to you was that Pridnestrovian entrepreneurs, individuals and legal entities learned about new duties introduced by the customs of the Republic of Moldova for our subjects of foreign economic activity at the beginning of January, on the New Year holidays. In other words, Moldova imposed certain duties on Pridnestrovie. Would you say it was a shock for us? Probably not. Was it unexpected? Probably true. It was unexpected.
