Free Trade Area Agreement between EU and Moldova leaves out specific features of Pridnestrovian economy – Foreign Minister of the PMR Nina Shtanski told taking questions from “Vesti. Economy”.
According to the Minister, development of state economy is already today hampered by obstacles in realization of the right of Pridnestrovians to carry out independent free economic activity enshrined in 1997 Memorandum on Normalization of Relations.
The diplomat reminded that Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE stay as guarantors to this document. However, over recent years Pridnestrovie has already three times been subjected to economic blockade – in 2001, 2003 and 2006. In 2012, Kishinev made the game rules for Pridnestrovian economic agents even more difficult forcing them to undergo appropriate registration in the Republic of Moldova – in particular, in order to give them the possibility to export their goods to the European market by preferential certificates.
The Minister stressed that signing Association Agreements of Ukraine and Moldova with the European Union at Vilnius summit at the end of November will even more aggravate economic situation of Pridnestrovie. Without any special foreign trade mechanism Pridnestrovie risks being locked between free trade areas that Ukraine and Moldova intend to create with EU.
Head of the Pridnestrovian MFA told that the details of a new agreement between Brussels and Kishinev are unknown to Tiraspol. Pridnestrovian representatives participated as observers at different stages of negotiations between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova. However, several arrangements were held confidentially. Obviously, the text of the proposed agreement will take into account neither specific character of economic system of Pridnestrovie, nor practical interests of Pridnestrovian enterprises, and this threatens them with new challenges, Nina Shtanski stated.
She believes that in current circumstances concluding new Agreement between Brussels and Kishinev will only deepen current contradictions between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. To avoid further negative consequences, a special formula of economic development between them with due account for unsettled Moldova-Pridnestrovie relations should be worked out – in particular, in the framework of direct consultations between representatives of Pridnestrovie and the European Union. Such formula could be fixed in a separate addendum of the upcoming Moldova-EU Agreement on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, Nina Shtanski concluded.
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