President of Pridnestrovie Yevgeny Shevchuk met with the delegation of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation, headed by State Secretary - Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Grigory Karasin. They discussed topical issues in the Russian-Pridnestrovian cooperation in various areas. It was about the implementation of a number of social and humanitarian projects in Pridnestrovie by the Russian Federation. Attention was paid to the aspects of Pridnestrovie – Moldova negotiation process.
From the Russian side the meeting was also attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Moldova Farit Mukhametshin, Deputy Director of the Second Department of the CIS of the Russian Foreign Ministry Vitaly Tryapitsyn, from the Pridnestrovian side - Acting Foreign Minister of the PMR Vitaly Ignatiev.
Yevgeny Shevchuk: Dear Grigory Borisovich, distinguished members of the delegation! I want to welcome you in Tiraspol. We're glad to see you. We hold meetings periodically in Tiraspol. It is encouraging that there is such an opportunity to discuss topical issues of the Moldo-Pridnestrovian interaction, the Pridnestrovian-Russian cooperation, the situation around the negotiation process, because we as a party to the negotiation process are concerned with it. Today, the possibility is available, and I want to express my gratitude.
First, I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the leadership of the Russian Federation for the humanitarian projects going on and being implemented in Pridnestrovie. This is primarily the ongoing humanitarian project aimed at supporting the Pridnestrovian pensioners, who receive monthly payments in 2016 as well. We have received appropriate funding for the first half of 2016 and are realizing the project in the framework of the agreements that were reached earlier. In terms of socio-economic difficulties, this is significant help for most of our Pridnestrovians - senior citizens.
I want to express gratitude for the support and implementation through the ANO “Eurasian Integration” of a whole group of projects on construction of facilities which are socially significant for Pridnestrovie – these are institutions of education and health systems. Some facilities have already been put into operation, some are in the stage of completion. We need them very much and are demanded by Pridnestrovians. Realization of the projects is aimed primarily at creating and forming conditions for all Pridnestrovians in health and education spheres, at improving our infrastructure. This is an investment in human capital. I take this opportunity to thank the Russian leadership, all the Russian Federation’s officials who assisted in the implementation of the project.
I want to note the completion of the RF project, which was positively perceived by all Pridnestrovians, I would have called it the humanitarian and educational project. Last year, with the participation of Russian colleagues we managed to implement a project on replacement of the book fund in Pridnestrovian schools. For the first time in the whole time of Pridnestrovie’s existence and, in principle, earlier, virtually all the Russian language schools of the republic received new textbooks from first to eleventh grade, which were printed in Pridnestrovie, but on the basis of already modern methods of teaching students. We have the opportunity to teach Pridnestrovians here in Pridnestrovie on the basis of modern methodologies, within the Russian educational standards. This is a very significant step forward, help to get a quality education. The school is a basic element in getting education. I would like to thank the Russian leadership for the assistance provided in this area.
Certainly, all Pridnestrovians are interested in maintaining stability. Keeping peace guarantees primarily the stability. And in fulfilling this task in Pridnestrovie the peacekeeping operation is still continuing successfully, the main contingent of which is the Russian group of troops. And the presence of this contingent guarantees stability and peace here - in Pridnestrovie, which is highly appreciated by Pridnestrovian citizens.
I want to thank the leadership and you personally – I know that you pay significant attention to these issues - as well as employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the CIS Department, Vitaly Yevgenyevich, and Mr. Ambassador, who periodically arrives, examines the situation that arise in the course of project implementation.
Along with such large infrastructural transformations implemented in the framework of the Russian projects, a significant amount of our health personnel are being trained to provide medical services at a new level of quality in Pridnestrovie. Four years ago Pridnestrovians had to get a significant part of medical services outside the country, there were problems with diagnostics. There are positive results from the implementation of humanitarian projects, including the Russian ones. We have specific figures on rescuing citizens using the new equipment here - in Pridnestrovie. This makes it possible to diagnose diseases at an early stage, to save lives. For example, 96 newborns have been saved only due to the new acquired equipment. We had no such opportunities before. People had to go outside the country, to look for opportunities. This major step forward became possible primarily due to the expansion of cooperation between Pridnestrovie and Russia.
We understand that the Russian Federation itself is in a difficult economic situation. However the assistance continues. On behalf of the Pridnestrovian people, the Pridnestrovian Government I would like to express gratitude to the leadership of Russia and all those who participated in the implementation of the projects.
Grigory Karasin: Dear Yevgeny Vasilyevich, dear Vitaly Viktorovich! First, thank you for the opportunity to meet with you. I understand how busy the Pridnestrovian President’s schedule is, how many representatives come here, and most importantly – how many problems you have to solve every day. I am all the more grateful for the kind words that you have said, Yevgeny Vasilyevich, to the address of our leadership, the leadership of the Russian Federation, the Government.
We really pay much attention to helping our Pridnestrovian colleagues, our friends in Pridnestrovie. We understand that Pridnestrovie’s economy is largely dependent on extraneous factors. Unfortunately, in recent years, these are basically the crises that are shaking the entire post-Soviet space, Europe, frankly, the situation in the world economy in general is quite troubled. But it is all the more important to realize the agreements, including the Protocol “Rogozin – Shevchuk”, which was signed not long ago and which applies to virtually all areas of Pridnestrovie’s livelihood. Our task is to be attentive to all requests and to ensure that all the reached agreements materialize.
Thank you for the list of the most important things. These are the projects of the ANO “Eurasian integration”. It is good that they are perceived as something almost done. Frankly, I’m glad to hear that there are positive developments in health care. In other words: positive processes are developing in a number of areas which are vital for Pridnestrovie, including with the help of the Russian Federation.
Today we met with representatives in the Republic of Moldova. In Kishinev we met with the Moldovan Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a number of politicians. The tasks that we, first of all, set ourselves - in a situation where political turbulence, hopefully for a long time, is reduced to a period of relative stability of the authorities in Kishinev, to resume the dialogue, to see how we can contribute to more stable Moldova and at the same time, naturally, to progress in terms of contacts with Pridnestrovie.
We continue to believe that the direct dialogue between Kishinev and Tiraspol is needed. This is a principle prerequisite in order to move forward in the Pridnestrovian settlement based on the principles enshrined in international agreements, on mutual respect, recognition of the fact that it is mutually necessary process which excludes any unilateral, uncoordinated with the other side actions.
I thank you for your high appreciation of the role of our peacekeepers. I am also convinced that the presence of Russian peacekeepers in the historic Pridnestrovian land is a symbol of stability and peace in the region. We met with the leadership of our peacekeepers on our way to you. And by the way, it is good that they are determined to serve to promote peace and stability. This is extremely important. It is felt in the tone of our military men and their bearing. They do not claim to be rewarded somehow in a special way, but at the same time they do their military and civic duty in full. And all honour to them for it!
As for the area of education. I think that not all, of course, has been done here. It’s good to know that Pridnestrovian children can learn in new conditions, new schools, using new textbooks, new literature. In the near future we will think about how to upgrade new forms of interaction between our secondary and higher educational institutions, to make it a single whole, so that people who receive higher education in Pridnestrovian universities and schools could use their skills wherever they are - whether in Pridnestrovie, Moldova, the Russian Federation and any other countries. To achieve this we need to discuss the issues together, to find some solutions, we need to think about it.
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