Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR, Vladimir Yastrebchak, met with journalists of Al Jazeera TV Channel. Film crew of this international television company prepares report on political and economic situation in Pridnestrovie.
The correspondent of the TV channel was interested in the prospects for Moldova-Pridnestrovie settlement in the light of negotiations over this issue which have taken place between the leaders of Russia and the European Union in the expiring year. Vladimir Yastrebchak answered a number of questions relating to the current situation between Moldova and Pridnestrovie and told about contacts which Tiraspol maintains with major foreign policy partners of the Republic.
Later in the day, the Head of the Transdniestrian MFA gave an interview to the correspondent of the Danish newspaper Politiken, which comes second among Danish daily newspapers in terms of circulated copies. Following the request of the Danish journalist, Vladimir Yastrebchak made review of the history and roots of the conflict on the Dniester, dwelling upon the modern stage of Moldova-Pridnestrovie relations. As the Minister noted, the foreign policy course of Pridnestrovie is based on the will of the Republic's citizens confirmed, in particular, during the 2006 referendum when overwhelming majority of the Pridnestrovien people voted in favor of strengthening of the PMR's independence and developing together with Russia.
In response to the question from the Danish newspaper regarding the presence of the Russian peacekeepers in Pridnestrovie, Vladimir Yastrebchak stressed this had been fixed by a number of interstate agreements and is one of the main guarantees of peace and security in the region. The Head of the Pridnestrovien MFA commented also on the calls of Chisinau towards western community with request to render assistance in transforming the peacekeeping operation on the Dniester. The Minister reminded that stabilizing role of the Russian peacekeepers is confirmed in the Joint Statement of the Presidents of Russia, Moldova, and Pridnestrovie from March 18, 2009, as well as in the Joint Statement of the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine from May 17, 2010. In these documents the need has been fixed to preserve the operating peacekeeping format until the final political settlement on the Dniester is reached.
Following the request of the Danish journalist, Vladimir Yastrebchak spotlighted also relations which Tiraspol is developing with the European countries, and answered a number of other issues regarding foreign policy of the PMR.
