Today, the Foreign Ministry of the PMR hosted a meeting between Deputy Chairperson of the Government for International Cooperation of the PMR, Foreign Minister Nina Shtanski and the European Union delegation headed by Chief Negotiator for DCFTA from the European Commission, Head of Unit "Trade aspects of European neighbourhood policy and trade relations with countries of the CIS and Balkans" Luc Devigne, Head of Political and Economic Section of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova Wicher Slagter, and Assistant of the Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission Joan Miksha. Taking part in the meeting was Vitaly Ignatiev, Deputy Foreign Minister of the PMR.
In the course of the meeting the parties discussed prospects for trade and economic cooperation between Pridnestrovie and the European Union in the context of the scheduled signing of DCFTA agreement by the Republic of Moldova. We note that it is the third visit of Luc Devigne to Pridnestrovie.
Addressing to the guests, Nina Shtanski stated that despite the meetings held earlier and devoted to the issues on economic interaction, at present, the dialogue acquired somewhat different dimension. She explained that the text of the Agreement became accessible to a wide range of interested parties – representatives of authorities and businesses who evaluated and realized risks and negative effects of a new trade regime for the Pridnestrovian economy. “I do not doubt that your specialists follow the public discussion held in Pridnestrovie in the course of different round tables, conferences. Some conclusions are drawn. And these conclusions are upsetting. Concluding the given Agreement and reformatting of the trade cooperation without regard to Pridnestrovie's interests and in unresolved conflict conditions are a destructive action,” – highlighted the Diplomat. At the same time, the Minister highly appreciated the decision by the European Union to maintain the regime of autonomous preferential certificates for Pridnestrovian enterprises till the end of 2015; she identified it as “sound and pragmatic”. “My colleagues and me are ready to a detailed dialogue with you on finding a special mechanism of trade cooperation between Pridnestrovie and the European Union, ” – concluded Nina Shtanski addressing to the guests.
In the course of the meeting the Minister emphasized that Pridnestrovie will not copy the commitments that Moldova is ready to make, because it is in contradiction with the interests of the republic and may be disastrous for the domestic economy.
