On July 22, Deputy Foreign Minister of Transdniestria Sergey Simonenko held a meeting with representatives of the delegation of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture – Jean-Pierre Restellini, Member of the Committee, and Johan Friestedt, Member of the Committee's Secretariat.
Committee for the Prevention of Torture has been collaborating with Transdniestria since 2000. Representatives of the Committee have already been to the Republic – in 2003 and 2006. During their visits, the CPT delegations' participants visit penitentiary institutions to assess incarceration conditions of the detainees. Following the results of the work, a report is prepared.
In the course of the meeting, Sergey Simonenko noted Transdniestria is interested in collaborating with the Committee as far as it provides the Council of Europe with impartial trustworthy information. The diplomat expressed regret over the fact that because of the unrecognized state of the Republic, information about Transdniestria, in European countries as well, doesn't always correspond to the facts, thus affecting adversely the international image of the country.
The interlocutors agreed as to the ability of the Committee's reports to prevent wrong rumors and insinuations. Jean-Pierre Restellini also drew attention to the fact that the Committee fosters improvement of living conditions of detainees due to target-oriented financial support.
Sergey Simonenko emphasized that Transdniestria regards itself as part of the international community and seeks to spread norms and principles of the generally accepted international conventions on the territory of the Republic. The diplomat expressed gratitude to the Committee for impartial approach in their work.
In the next few days the delegation members will visit a number of penitentiary institutions of Transdniestria.
