The journalist was interested in the current socio-economic situation in the country, the situation on the Pridnestrovian-Ukrainian border, as well as the position of Pridnestrovie regarding information spread by some Ukrainian media.
The «Baltkom» correspondent:
What is the socio-political situation in Pridnestrovie, whether is there some tension?
The Deputy Chairperson of the Government of the PMR for International Cooperation, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR Nina Shtanski:
Pridnestrovie is not going through, to put it mildly, the most peaceful times now. The tensions heated up in Ukrainian media causes, of course, our anxiety and concern. Pridnestrovie tirelessly confirms: peaceful people live here, for all the history of its existence, Pridnestrovie has never attacked anyone, and there is no such intentions either now or they cannot be in the future. The situation in Ukraine is, unfortunately, reflected on our socio-economic situation, the well-being of people who live here. I can say that today the losses of Pridnestrovian producers are up to 40 percent. We are, of course, concerned about it, moreover, Ukraine is our only transport corridor for the goods produced in Pridnestrovie and supplied to the Russian market. The complications have already affected the social sector: we were unfortunately forced to introduce temporary unpopular measures, connected with the payment of wages. We wish the fastest stabilization in Ukraine, we still support only peaceful solution of any disagreements, and our most important foreign policy goal, as before is to build good neighborly relations both with Moldova, and Ukraine. We certainly realize that Pridnestrovie faces today perhaps the strongest threats since 1992, when the Pridnestroviansopposed to the military aggression, built their own republic, to survive and to live in peace with the neighbors. The head of the state, the President of the PMR Yevgeny Shevchuk, has recently said about this at the meeting with the residents of the republic. I am grateful to your editorial board that you give an opportunity for the people in your country to hear Pridnestrovie's call for peace.
How are things going on the Pridnestrovian-Ukrainian border, what is known about the construction of a land ditch by the Ukrainian side?
Unfortunately, the Pridnestrovian-Ukrainian border really observes changes. In particular, along the border, we can see armed forces from Ukraine, some fortifications. It is difficult for us to understand the meaning of such actions, and we expect that they will not lead to the escalation of tensions.
How do you assess the statements of the Ukrainian side that the border strengthens to stop smuggling?
This is a rather stable stereotype about the republic as a kind of a "black hole", which has inculcated through various media, especially foreign ones for many years. It should be understood that the border from the Pridnestrovian side is controlled by our law enforcement, customs and border services, there is also no reason to doubt that the activity of the Ukrainian border and customs services is equally effective. In addition, researchers and journalists often miss the fact that since 2005 on the Pridnestrovian-Ukrainian border - but now in the strengthened mode - the European Union Border Assistance Mission functions, so-called EUBAM.It publishes quarterly and annually reports, and during its activity the smuggling has been revealed on the Moldovan-Ukrainian border, not controlled by Pridnestrovie. It has never been revealed the terrible facts of the smuggling of weapons, illegal substances and human trafficking on the Pridnestrovian segment that often attributed to us. I believe that these reports, posted in a free access on the Internet can be used by those media, which spread such rumors now- of course, if they do want to provide objective, unbiased, and verified information.
The media reported that territory of Ukraine was fired on from the territory of Pridnestrovie. Is it true?
This is exactly the case when media accelerate tensions – we reckon such actions provocative. No facts of firing, intrusions, incidents at the border have been revealed either in recent times, or for more than a few decades.
How do you assess the actions of the Russian peacekeepers in Pridnestrovie?
Russian peacekeepers on the banks of the Dniester are the only and, I would like to emphasize that, effective guarantee of peace. Through the efforts of the Russian soldier the bloodshed was stopped here, it became possible to join contingents of the conflicting parties within the peacekeeping contingent: the Moldovan and Pridnestrovian peacekeepers are serving here together with the Russian ones, as well as there are military observers from Ukraine. This mission is unique, that is recognized by experts not only in the post-Soviet space. Attempts to discredit this mission today I consider as attempts to escalate and to “unfreeze” the conflict, what is extremely dangerous.
Are you considering the possibility of joining Russia, if so, under what conditions and within what timeframe?
In 2006 the Pridnestrovians expressed their opinion on this issue. In a national referendum, which was attended by an unprecedented large number of citizens of the republic, two questions were asked. The first question was "Are you in favor of independence of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic followed by a free entry into the Russian Federation?", the second one was "Do you consider it possible to join the Republic of Moldova?". More than 97% of the population of the republic answered that they wanted to live in an independent country with its subsequent entry into the Russian Federation. There is no reason to believe that the will of the people living in Pridnestrovie is qualitatively or substantively different from the will of the people living anywhere else. The will of the people was expressed and our main goal is to implement it.
