Today the Collegium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PMR in extended format devoted to the 20th anniversary of Pridnestrovian diplomatic service took place in the Palace of Republic. President of the PMR Yevgeny Shevchuk, Head of the Government of the PMR Pyotr Stepanov, Chairman of the Supreme Council Mikhail Burla, official representatives of the Republic of Abkhazia and of the Republic of South Ossetia, heads of ministries and agencies of Pridnestrovie, representatives of the civil society of the Republic took part in the solemn event.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR Nina Shtanski, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR Vitaly Ignatiev and Head of Department for Public Communications and Information-Technical Support of the MFA Igor Shornikov made their reports during the event.
Nina Shtanski informed participants of the event about the results of work of the foreign-political agency of Pridnestrovie for past half-year. She noted that serious changes of structure, character and scope of work took place in the Ministry. Minister pointed out that in spite of decrease of number of staff of the Ministry, both qualitative and quantitative results increased. At the same time, financing of the ministry decreased significantly.
Head of Pridnestrovian diplomacy noted the increased number of visits of delegations from both European countries and from countries – members of the CIS; the resumption and dynamic development of negotiation process between Pridnestrovie and Moldova; activation of work of the expert groups. According to Nina Shtanski, formation of positive image of our State on international arena is one of the major tasks. “Many patterns of development of the Republic, including investment attractiveness of the State, depend on Pridnestrovie's authority in the world”, – diplomat pointed out.
During her speech Nina Shtanski noted, that at present time the PMR\'s MFA concentrated its\' efforts on fulfilment of the tasks of the Head of State to elaborate new reading of Foreign Policy Concept of Pridnestrovie, which will be capable to reflect strategy of the Republic with respect to integration in Eurasian structures.
Minister told about the activity of non-governmental organizations working under the PMR's MFA. In particular, Nina Shtanski emphasized the importance which is attached by foreign office to the Council of Young Diplomats. Given project is aimed at upbringing of highly skilled, experienced specialists of diplomatic service.
Nina Shtanski thanked the officers of the PMR's MFA for selfless labor and disposed them to even more active work in favor of protection and promotion of interests of the State on international arena. “Pridnestrovie is our State. The State, which we must protect by any diplomatic means. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is well-established command of professionals; and we will prove with the help of our work, that the energy of our nation, which was directed to creation and protection of the Republic 20 years ago, was not frittered away and is capable to implement more ambitious tasks today,” Minister made a conclusion.
During his speech Vitaly Ignatiev made comparative analysis of the results of work of the PMR's MFA in 2011 and first half of 2012, told about the modernization of normative-legal base, which defines form and substance of the activity of the Ministry and on the mechanisms of interaction with Moldova within the framework of “Permanent Consultations” and expert groups. “Within the context of the approach, implemented by Pridnestrovian diplomacy, it is the summand of the dynamics of activity of each expert group that finally defines common efficiency of multilevel political mechanism, directed on the settlement of Moldova-Pridnestrovie relations,” diplomat said.
Igor Shornikov told about information aspect of the work of the MFA. According to him, this direction is becoming one of the major in agency's activity. In this connection he noted the necessity of system informational work in context of directing Pridnestrovian strategy towards integration into Eurasian structures. “Our goal is to form social order in Russian society on integration of Pridnestrovie into Eurasian space”, – head of the press-service of the MFA pointed out.
After the summary of the work of the Collegium of the MFA Head of State made a speech with analysis of work of the agency. President of the PMR Yevgeny Shevchuk noted high efficiency of foreign-political agency for past half-year. President informed that today Pridnestrovian diplomats have tasks to organize open and practical dialogue with Moldova which will allow not to point questions with high conflict potential and to solve issues lying in social and economic sphere. “Poverty of people, barriers for economic agents, necessity of opening of new transport routes – these and other challenges are facing Pridnestrovian diplomacy” – Head of State said.
Noting accomplishments of the PMR's MFA, Pyotr Stepanov also expressed his confidence that it is the small steps tactics, declared by the President, which will allow to improve living conditions of people without increasing the conflict potential with the Republic of Moldova.
Chairman of the Supreme Council of the PMR and heads of diplomatic representations of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia also gave speeches during the collegium.
Today also the presentation of the latest number of the departmental edition of PMR's MFA “Diplomatic Journal of Pridnestrovie” took place.
