Answers to Media Questions of the Deputy Chairperson of the Government of the PMR for International Cooperation, Foreign Minister Nina Shtanski, during the Briefing on "Topical Issues of the Economic Blockade of Pridnestrovie" of August 13, 2014

Dnestr TV (Pridnestrovie): Primarily we are interested in the situation related to the fact that Moldova has joined the Association with the European Union. This fact raises a lot of questions. In particular, what is the further development of the situation? It may be the case where the Moldovan goods either will not appear in Russia or will but with very unprofitable conditions. Here is the question: whether Pridnestrovie has any preferences to sell goods to Russia produced in Pridnestrovie? Thank you.Nina Shtanski: Thank you for your interesting and very topical issue, for the Pridnestrovian producers as well. We, of course, do extensive work with the Russian side and increase the volume of our trade with the Russian Federation. One of the most vivid and most relevant example is Kamenka canning factory, which almost twenty-four-hour provides work on Russian orders now. Our Pridnestrovian green pea is available now in largest supermarkets of the Russian Federation, in the trading network "Magnit". We expect that the start was marked - this scheme of work has been tested out now and will be widely implemented in respect of other our enterprises. There are no any difficulties, in the context of your question, today to export our products, including agricultural one, to the Russian Federation. Russia is waiting for our products.There are objective difficulties associated with documenting our products, and you realize that today this process is carried out in the Republic of Moldova and carried out not without serious consequences. We work on it. The Pridnestrovian Government has conducted extensive work. You know that last month the Government delegation led by the President of Pridnestrovie was in Moscow. Extensive work has also been carried out in Russia under the leadership of the Special Representative of the President of Russia on Pridnestrovie, Dmitry Rogozin, we also managed to sign specific interdepartmental memoranda. They develop now provisions of the so-called Protocol "Rogozin-Shevchuk." All necessary legal and regulatory framework is created, in order to bring economic relations between Pridnestrovie and Russia out of the situation where they depend on the Moldovan rules that are constantly changing. We will do in the near future, of course, everything necessary to maximum reorient our products to the Russian market. However, there are objective difficulties related to the situation in Ukraine. One of them is the transportation of our products. Unfortunately, there are problems with transporters, whom we cannot influence for the voiced reasons. There is also a problem with the overpriced cost of goods transportation when moving through Ukraine because of the existing risks. There is a problem of cargo insurance, and, of course, there are contractors, who would not want production to be directed by road through the territory of Ukraine. All of those issues need resolving, and we hope very much that the situation in Ukraine will stabilize and the aforementioned obstacles will be removed. The work for today is comprehensively carried out on those aspects where our cooperation with the Russian Federation may affect the change in the format of trade relations.The newspaper "Panorama" (Moldova): Specify please, under what documentation do the products of Pridnestrovie go to Russia?Nina Shtanski: Our production goes to Russia with customs provision of the Republic Moldova. The Russian Federation recognizes the certificate of origin of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, but there is still a problem concerning the moving of our goods across the border with Ukraine. Because Ukraine, as I said earlier, signed the relevant documents with the Republic of Moldova in 2006 and fulfills its obligations, what is the main problem of the economic blockade of us: we are not independent to bring our own products to the market that we have tapped.The newspaper "Panorama" (Moldova): But Moldovan plants cannot export now its products to Russia ...Nina Shtanski: But the Pridnestrovian ones can.The newspaper "Panorama" (Moldova): What then does the blockade consist in?Nina Shtanski: The blockade is that when exporting the products to the Russian Federation, the particular enterprise needs to make Pridnestrovian production, pay taxes here, incur corresponding social obligations, and then make it the Moldovan one, with all the necessary logistical and financial costs. As you understand, by the moment where such production, burdened with two systems of taxation, gets on the Russian market, its competitiveness is significantly reduced.In this context, by the way, it is interesting to see how the Pridnestrovian products have been reorientating to the European market from 2006 to now. You have surely heard both from Moldovan diplomats and from foreign diplomats statements like this one: "What should Pridnestrovie complain about? Look, more than 35, 40, 50% of their production goes to European markets!" Not bad, right? We continue to say that this is the essence of the blockade: we were deprived of the possibility to independently determine at what market we want our products to assert and keep their positions. For example, until 2006, let us say from 2001 to 2006, the dynamics of our trade with the Russian Federation was as follows: first, 25% of the total trade turnover was sent to the RF, then 30, 40, and by 2006 more than 50%. How much do you think in percentage terms we send today goods to Russia? 14%. Because everything was done in order for these products to lose their position in the market. Yes, with Moldovan customs provision, we can export them, but by the time they arrive to this market, their price was significantly different from that which could be.As for the European side, Europe has created a system of trade preferences for these enterprises, and yes, the business, in order to survive, had to look for the easiest way to sell their products. What can seemingly bother Pridnestrovian enterprises, if they have a trade area in Europe? They are bothered about the rules for getting by these Pridnestrovian enterprises all the necessary documents in order to go with this production to Europe, which are changed all the time by Moldova and no one knows in advance how exactly those rules will be changed. There are new burdens, for example, the introduction of the new Moldovan rules in the spring of this year. Moldova decided to enter excise taxes for import, which was almost endangered the negotiations, several of our enterprises were on the verge of closing. Fortunately, we managed to solve this problem.The newspaper "Panorama" (Moldova): But Moldovan winemakers, for example, also do not know when they are "blown on their heads", rules change, today they sell wine, tomorrow they will not...Nina Shtanski: I can hardly discuss here with you the interests of the Moldovan winemakers. I think you should talk about it with members of the Moldovan Government. I know for sure that if the Pridnestrovian winemakers were not be deprived of the opportunity to send their products independently to any country they want, and do it without the interference of Moldova, as it should have been in accordance with the existing agreements between Moldova and Pridnestrovie - these enterprises would flourish then.Why the Moldovan Government, according to you, does not care enough about the Moldovan winemakers, I can hardly answer you.I would like to add something here. When our largest enterprises traded with the Russian Federation, much more people worked at those enterprises. In terms of money, the profit of those companies was a lot more, they just had more money that they could invest in the reequipment of manufactures and organization of workplaces. For example, we examined 10 large Pridnestrovian enterprises, which mostly traded with Russia in the early 2000s, and looked at what happened to those enterprises. In 1998, they had 23,000 workers - not bad for 10 enterprises of a rather small republic. What do you think, how many people work there now? Less than 13 thousand. If everything is good and there is allegedly no blockade, where are the tens of thousands of workplaces?Somebody may say that this is due to the fact that the production has been modernized and those people has become simply unnecessary. I cannot but note that, unfortunately, those companies did not had the opportunity to modernize production, they just survive, and it is elementary difficult for them to retain the possibility of allowing people to earn.Then we looked at what happened to the other enterprises of Pridnestrovie, which were independent on foreign markets: there are enterprises that make products consumed in the domestic market. We examined five such large productions, and saw what happened to them in 1998 and what has now become. So, those enterprises had a little more than 2 thousand workers in 1998, and now they have almost 7 thousand, i.e. the number of the workplaces at those enterprises essentially increased. You may judge on your own how good or bad to be in this or that market. Therefore, we certainly understand the wish of our producers to have an opportunity to get into the Russian market on the same terms which they had before the blockade of 2006.The newspaper "Russkoye Slovo" (Moldova): Tell me, please, how do the events in Ukraine today affect the terms of the implementation of the ANO "Eurasian integration" social projects?Nina Shtanski: I think that more information about this you might get from the Press Service of the ANO "Eurasian integration." We believe that the projects that the organization is implementing in Pridnestrovie, are scale, it is very difficult to say how quickly they could be implemented in other conditions, because the work is carried out very quickly, I think. Of course, this is the view of an average person, but I can see how these buildings are built, how fast it happens. We are surely very grateful for it to Russia and those people from Russia, who rule this activity here in Pridnestrovie. Difficulties with transportation through Ukraine, of course, exist, but it is better for you to get more information not from me.The newspaper "Russkoye Slovo" (Moldova): If I may, one more question. How is it necessary to build the information policy on both banks of the Dniester River to prevent information blockade and information warfare, in your opinion?Nina Shtanski: Theoretically the recipe is very simple, but as practice shows, it is very difficult to implement: just not to lie. To expand different information - good and bad ones. There are not always good news, there are issues that are not only possible, but also necessary to raise and to criticize, to be kept posted about them and stimulate political processes. But not to lie. Sometimes reading such materials of Moldovan colleagues, I have the feeling that we are not separated by 70 kilometers, but we live on different planets. Frankly, there are such materials about Pridnestrovie from foreign representatives, and those who come here to make a report on Pridnestrovie, which raised the question: why they have spent money for the road, if such nonsense they could write sitting, for example, in Washington, at the computer.For the sake of justice I must say that recently we observe an increased activity of the media community in relation to both the negotiations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova, and the processes taking place in Pridnestrovie. I am glad that media have begun to come to us. I understand that sometimes there are "editorial tasks". But anyway, journalists have the opportunity to see on their own and comprehend for themselves at least what they see here. It becomes already a joke, when foreign guests come to us and we ask whether they have not met tanks on the road. Everyone starts surely to laugh, but this was so much written about, that the situation is ridiculous.Generally, we are certainly grateful to the media community which responds to what happens here.TV-7 Channel (Moldova): Can you tell the effect of the situation in the region to the negotiations, particularly on the issue of the economic blockade?Nina Shtanski: Diplomacy and negotiations are needed to avoid blockades because sanctions and restrictions are not instruments of the modern world politics and not friendly measures. And negotiations are a search for compromise. My team and I as a Pridnestrovian negotiator, this exact way we see the purposes of our participation in the "5 +2".  However difficult it may be for us to communicate, whatever pain points we press at, our task is to find the way. Let it be a small narrow path, which we will get off, but it needs to find it and start this way, and go along it. It seemed to me that in 2012, we were on this path, and we even made the first confident steps, but their intensity, unfortunately, declined. I can see no other option than to solve all the contradictions existing between us at the negotiating table. In another way, it simply will not work. In another way, it was already in 1992 - we know what it led to. This is a terrible lesson of history, and I hope that that lesson was drawn by everybody. That is why the negotiations are needed, because a peaceful solution of any complex problem must be found.The newspaper "Komsomolskaya Pravda" in Moldova: Nina Viktorovna, tell please, if you have been able to convince during over two and a half years of negotiations the Moldovan side to eliminate a number of unjustified barriers to the foreign trade of Pridnestrovie  and the relevant law was adopted, why then is it not implemented?

Nina Shtanski: Here I should tell you that the last three weeks have given us some news about this, and to some extent the law began to be fulfilled. We constantly keep this issue under control. Yes, the Moldovan law was signed on May 9 of this year and came into force on the date of signing, but, unfortunately, in May and June, our businesses continued to bear financial burdens, although it was contrary both to the agreements of the negotiation process, and to the domestic law of the Republic of Moldova . There were some delays: we were explained that, in fact, some of its norms started to work – believe me, what I\'m talking about I find hard to understand because I am a lawyer, but I bring in the arguments that we got from Moldovan colleagues in the "5 +2" format - it needed to adopt some other decrees of the RM's Government. As far as I know, in the end, they were adopted. Meanwhile, until mid-July our businesses continued to pay fees for customs clearance and environmental fee. Now we have received information that the law began to operate fully. Anyway, according to the results of last month, our enterprises did not make contributions. I hope that at least it will be possible to put an end to this issue.

The newspaper "Komsomolskaya Pravda" in Moldova: Many residents of Pridnestrovie buy commodity in the "Sedmoy kilometr” (seventh kilometer, a market near Odessa) and sell it in the Pridnestrovian cities. It is understood that in connection with certain events in Ukraine number of such "shuttler traders" reduced, it is the first; the second is that on August 9 absolutely all citizens of Russia, there are a lot of them in Pridnestrovie, are denied entry to the territory of Ukraine. What is doing or intends to do the Foreign Ministry in this regard?

Nina Shtanski: We are in constant contact with all members of the "5 + 2", not only with Ukraine, which we will certainly inform about our concerns, but with everyone, because freedom of movement, as we know, is one of the items of the agenda, on the basis of which we have been working since April 18, 2012, when we all agreed on the view of the negotiation space. We, unfortunately, do not get explanations from the Ukrainian side, which would give us the opportunity to understand the application of such measures against the Russian citizens living in Pridnestrovie. You are absolutely right. Yes, this leads to decrease in business activity of the population, because so many people are engaged in trade. It is not only enterprises, but also individuals, entrepreneurs, who are not juridical persons. And yes, they have always played an important role in the structure of trade turnover. Reduction of this activity has amounted 20% already. This is also caused by the fact that many of these people have Russian passports and simply cannot carry out the activities that has traditionally brought them income.

First Pridnestrovian channel: Nina Viktorovna, as Moldova signed an association with the EU, there were many assurances of European officials that it would not affect the interests of Pridnestrovian enterprises, although the agreement itself, as we know, does not specify and include the interests of Pridnestrovie. Regarding this, can we expect that the interests of Pridnestrovie will be documented?Nina Shtanski: I, unfortunately, cannot share the view that the agreement on a new trade regime between Moldova and the European Union do not affect the interests of Pridnestrovian enterprises. It would not affect the interests of Pridnestrovian enterprises, if Pridnestrovie could fully exercise its right to freedom of foreign economic activity, regardless of the rules, established by the Republic of Moldova. The conditions we find ourselves in, it affects the Pridnestrovian enterprises directly, at least those that maintain deliveries of their products to the markets of the European Union and the Republic of Moldova itself.This is business. It will always find any opportunities for survival. As far as I can tell from memory, Moldova ranked 68% in the structure of our trade in the last month - this is quite a lot. As to the substance of your question, Pridnestrovie has been conducting consultations with European colleagues for the second year, and we would like a special trading mechanism to be developed for Pridnestrovie, as the agreement, which was signed by the Republic of Moldova, is totally unacceptable to us.  You know that the basis of our economy is industry. We are an industrial region; the largest plants are located here. So, even such categories as ferrous metallurgy, for example, or mechanic engineering are not mentioned in the agreement. Many types of production are not carried out in Moldova, so they were not taken into account by the Republic of Moldova in such agreement. In addition, it is no secret to you that Pridnestrovie has a system of state support for enterprises - enterprises are granted privileges and subsidies. Moldova does not apply such system. Moldova signed such an agreement with the European Union, according to which any state support of any companies will inevitably lead to sanctions against this company, because it will be considered unfair competition from the point of view of the European law. There are many other aspects that I could bring in to you item after item, but, perhaps, it should be a subject of a specific conversation.  It should be understood that Moldova has entered into this agreement in terms of the unresolved conflict. Such ignoring violates the system of our relationships and arrangements completely.What do we expect? We have repeatedly said that we are interested in the opportunity of trading with the European Union to be preserved for the businesses that are willing to carry out their activities in this direction. Yes, we reckon that we will be able to reorient our products as much as possible to the Russian and Eurasian markets, but there is freedom of choice in business. And those companies that want to retain the ability to trade with the European Union should get it. We highly appreciate the decision of the European colleagues to preserve opportunities for Pridnestrovian companies to trade with the European Union outside the regime of the DCFTA before the end of 2015, i.e. certificates of ATP - certificates of autonomous trade preferences continue to be issued. We are, of course, grateful for that, but we understand that this is a temporary measure, and today these companies are in a situation where they can hardly predict their activity. And we know that the contracts are concluded for a long time ahead that means that the enterprises are now virtually in a "limbo" state, it, of course, cannot help bothering us.

First Pridnestrovian channel: Is there assurance that such regime will remain?

Nina Shtanski: We conduct consultations on this issue.RTR Moldova: If I may, I have 3 questions from my colleagues. I understand that cessation of the double taxation for the Pridnestrovian enterprises is not the solution to all problems. And recently there was a feeling that the negotiations, in principle, either have deadlocked or are close to a dead end. The question is: what is planned in order to re-activate the negotiations? To ensure them to be not only active, but at the same time effective.Nina Shtanski: This is the toughest question. Because, if for the first part of your question, despite the fact that it is economic, I know the answer, then for the second - the diplomatic part - I, unfortunately, have no answer.As for double taxation, then let me correct the accent. Double taxation in respect of the Pridnestrovian enterprises has not been canceled. We are talking about the above-mentioned law, which provided for the release of Pridnestrovian economic agents from the payment of customs clearance. This is 0.1% and 0.5% of the amount of goods sums for customs clearance of import and export. Those amounts were charged from Pridnestrovian agents in violation of those provisions, which the Republic of Moldova adopted itself in 2005 and 2006. Moldova adopted those provisions when it said to our enterprises that after receiving a temporary registration in the Republic of Moldova, they would enjoy a special regime and would not be subjects to taxation in the Republic of Moldova.Unfortunately, all these obligations of Moldova towards our companies were violated and such payments for customs clearance were charged for many years, which resulted in quite impressive amounts of losses. The same goes for environmental fee. It just could not be collected from our enterprises, because they do not carry out their production on the territory of Moldova, and such payments are collected, for example, from Moldovan enterprises solely in order to improve the situation in the field of ecology, i.e. they have a designated purpose. We managed to cancel these payments, but we still have not solved the problem of VAT implementation on Pridnestrovian goods. So if we know that this tax applies to foreign goods, in our case this tax is applied by the Republic of Moldova to our goods in one and in the other direction. This problem, unfortunately, is unsolved, and we insist on substantive discussions on this matter.There is still a problem of customs clearance and certification of our products. Let\'s say, we have mentioned this aspect today, in order to trade with Russia we do not need to obtain certificates in Moldova. That means that an enterprise does not have to carry their products in Kisinev to clear them for export. It is sufficient for an enterprise with Pridnestrovian documents recognized by the Russian Federation to send goods directly through Ukraine. It is logistically cheaper, easier in organization and much more profitable financially. But today there is no such possibility, and this certification problem seriously impedes business development. There are still problems, which have emerged recently. For example, in 2012, our enterprises were required to provide statistical and accounting information to the fiscal authorities of the Republic of Moldova exclusively in Romanian. This rule was applied retroactively and enterprises had to submit not only the current documentation in Romanian language, but also all the documentation since 2006. Is it conceivable when an enterprise is located in Pridnestrovie, works under the Prednistrovian legislation, accordingly keeps all the documentation, well, just do not have people who could physically do it in Romanian. Of course, the enterprise cannot do this. What does this mean? It means fines, sanctions.The problem of Pridnestrovian import. There are enterprises that produce their goods from raw material that was delivered in Pridnestrovie from Ukraine. Today, the products of such enterprises may not be sold in Moldova and are deprived of the opportunity to receive any documents, i.e. cannot go anywhere at all, and Moldova initiated cases on such enterprises and referred them to the courts. Are you aware to what article do they refer? Contraband. We still cannot solve this problem. There are many restrictions. The law, which you mentioned, removed some of the problems. Yes, this is a serious and significant step forward. But it is not enough to change the socio-economic situation for the Pridnestrovian economy and for specific enterprises.What should be done to move forward in the negotiations? In order to be effective, it is necessary to stop activating the repressive machine, it is necessary to stop the system of pressure (it does not give any result). A bungee cannot be tensioned infinite; we all know what happens then. It must not be done. Sanctions never helped anyone in solving certain problems. There will be no progress in negotiations until the mechanism of sanctions is used to compel the adoption of any decision. Perhaps, you have heard what the OSCE Chairmanship says? If in 2011, 2012, 2013 Vilnius, Dublin, Kiev talked about the purpose of the negotiations, today Belgrade says only one thing - to keep the negotiations alive. Not a very ambitious goal for negotiators, right? But it is a reality. I think that without the development of substantive decisions, i.e. not just arrangements, put on paper and, in most cases, as in our case, not fulfilled. We need solutions, the results of which will positively affect people, living in Tiraspol, Kishinev, Chadyr-Lunga, Bendery. When they start to feel the effect of our work - we will be able to talk about the effectiveness of negotiations. All the rest, unfortunately, is activity that does not always give a result.

RTR Moldova: What is the current situation on the border with Ukraine?

Nina Shtanski: I think we have already answered this question. Trade flow is reduced for 43%, there is a limit to the movement of people, it also affects the economy, we have just talked about this above.  

RTR Moldova: And if not in economic volume, but in generally with a hint of conflict?

Nina Shtanski: I think this is a topic for another our meeting. Arguments and Facts in Moldova: Regarding the investment crisis: what do the authorities do in the framework of the economic blockade and what is expected?Nina Shtanski: Indeed, the PMR's authorities have not given up and there are investments. Yes, very poor, but they are. I must say that the information policy here, of course, plays a key role, but we do our best to disseminate information about the conditions of business conduction that are created in Pridnestrovie. Here an appropriate legal framework was created, which is unique in its kind. Taken together, such measures as providing, for example, "tax holidays" for new industries, zero taxation of innovation activity, such measures as state support at the level of individual agreements for certain enterprises, and, finally, the energy possibilities of Pridnestrovie, definitely, create quite a favorable background for doing business here. On the other hand, there are problems that we have been talking for an hour now. It is dependence on the change in the rules of work with the Pridnestrovian economic agents in the Republic of Moldova. It makes any businessman to think a lot of times before organizing one or another business in Pridnestrovie. And here it must be said that the investment blockade is directly related to the problems of logistics. It is very difficult to arrange, on a proper level, a modern business in the complete absence of the possibility to independently carry out transport logistics, to use infrastructure.Do you know that the river traffic is completely destroyed, there is no air traffic, there is no way for independent trucking. The problem that exists now in Ukraine creates a risk area and risk in sending products through the port by sea, etc. Of course, this is not conducive to improving the investment climate, but a huge work is conducted in Pridnestrovie, involving non-governmental sector, the Chamber of Commerce is doing a great job, and also the Union of farmers and entrepreneurs. This year, the agreement between the Chambers of Commerce of the Russian Federation and Pridnestrovie was concluded, and I hope that it will also be an important contribution to the development of investment activity here. But there has been done enough on the level of legislation to ensure the possibility to work more pragmatically here.Newspaper “Profsouznye Vesti” (Pridnestrovie): Today, the economic theme in Pridnestrovie is oppressed by a political one, such alarming. Everyone is talking about the possibility of military conflict, and you surely know this. People are alarmed, people are scared, there is nothing new, we have already passed it. But everyone starts to listen if it is a thunder or shots, and it\'s really scary. So I understand, that at the negotiating platforms you discuss not only economic issues, but for sure, political ones. Are the negotiators, Russia, informed about the situation today, do they give us any guarantees? Generally, people expect from authorities some comforting words, like “guys, we talk, we are discussing this topic and there will be no conflict”. I understand that today it is difficult to give any guarantees, because the situation is changing very rapidly, but still, I understand that you are also concerned about this point, and certainly discuss it. How is the situation today? What can we expect?Nina Shtanski: First of all, I must tell you that my diplomatic, foreign policy powers do not extend to defense policy, the Ministry of Defence deals with it in our country. And you know, the Ministry is doing well. Also, I have no doubt that you know that this week was held a meeting of the Security Council of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, where that very question was discussed. According to the results of this meeting the Head of the Republic, our President, made a statement in which he reassured the public and the international community that Pridnestrovie does not pose any threats. We have not attacked anyone and do not intend to. In addition, the President said that Pridnestrovie is ready to protect the people living here and to reflect any threat. I have nothing to add to this.

First Pridnestrovian channel: If may, back to the economy. Yesterday it was reported that the Ukrainian Parliament passed a bill, which includes the possibility of cessation of Pridnestrovian exports to the territory of Russia, inter alia agricultural products. Please, comment on the meaning of that for us.Nina Shtanski: I\'m not sure that you have accurate information. As far as I know, such initiative has been voiced; meanwhile the corresponding document is not accepted. Let us return to this issue when we have a subject for communication, because there are a lot of initiatives. You understand that the political conjuncture now makes it possible for various political forces to transfer messages, which are convenient for them. Recently in the media, not without the participation of certain politicians, have appeared so many provocative statements, including those from Ukraine with regard to Pridnestrovie, so I would not like to participate in this process, escalating the situation. We understand all the complexity of the situation in Ukraine and are very worried about what is happening there, because it is our neighbor, because it is fraternal people, because here in Pridnestrovie live a vast number of ethnic Ukrainians and almost 100 thousand citizens of Ukraine. We are concerned and wish stabilization and peace to this country, and we try not to react nervously to many attacks, which sometimes seem hysterical.

First Pridnestrovian channel: How far may the war of sanctions between Russia and the West affect or have affected the economic relations of Pridnestrovie and Moldova? Nina Shtanski: I would not look at this issue from this angle, because there are many dimensions of the conflict between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. Now, for sure, a new economic dimension has appeared, but in the meantime we would like the economy not to be politicized by all parties of political processes related to us. Let me remind you that the European Union is an observer in the "5 +2" format, the Russian Federation and Ukraine are the guarantor countries. The "Principles and procedures ..." - this is the main document that defines our interaction – says that none of the participants of the negotiation process cannot take any actions in respect of the contracting parties that could worsen their situation. This is our basis. We proceed from the fact that all participants of the negotiations with equal responsibility will relate to the fact that welfare of people living in Pridnestrovie depends on the socio-economic situation here. Namely, the interests of these people we give as arguments of our actions in the negotiation process, we reckon on this common sense.  Thank you for your attention.