The PMR’s Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev gave an interview to Mr. Eiki Berg, Tartu University Professor (Estonia), and his colleague Kristel Vits. The scientists showed interest in a wide range of topics, including the Pridnestrovian trade with the EU, certain aspects of relations with the Republic of Moldova and geopolitical context of the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian settlement process. Political and legal prerequisites for the Pridnestrovian state formation were also part of discussion.
During the conversation, Vitaly Ignatiev stated that Pridnestrovie is currently in a special trading regime with the EU since January 1, 2016. “We had separate negotiations on optimal export regime of our goods to the EU market since 2012 till 2015”, the Minister stressed out. Unlike Moldova and Ukraine, Pridnestrovie did not take any political obligations, he said. “At the same time, we tried to make the trading framework mutually beneficial”, the diplomat added.
Within the discussion, Vitaly Ignatiev emphasized Moldova’s economic pressure practice on Pridnestrovie. “During 30 years, Moldova tried to destroy the Pridnestrovian economic potential to force us come to certain political decisions”, the Minister stated. In this context, he specified restrictions imposed on Pridnestrovian enterprises since 2006, and Moldova’s pressure on the Pridnestrovian border with Ukraine.
“It’s a huge concern: there are risks to block import into the Republic of a wide range of food products and goods, medicines included. We are negotiating for the past two years to prevent this problem. We believe, in this case we deal with political and economic elements pressure,” the diplomat said.
As to prospects for the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian conflict settlement, Vitaly Ignatiev pointed out, “the de-facto settlement vector has already been defined”: within 30 years, Pridnestrovie has developed into a state. “Therefore, I’m sure it is necessary now to create conditions to solve the conflict, moving progressively on a “simple-to-complex” basis, eliminating restrictions and blockage elements, solving problems in the interests of people”, the Minister concluded.
