Tiraspol, 29 March. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The small steps tactics is yet to be exhausted, said the deputy foreign minister of the Russian Federation, Grigory Karasin, following his meeting with Pridnestrovian President Yevgeny Shevchuk. At the same time, according to the Russian diplomat, the significance of some achievements within this tactics should not be underestimated.
«I do not consider the phrase 'small steps concept' to be very successful because some small steps are rather heavy and huge as for their significance. I'd rather call it the headway tactics, and it is yet to be exhausted. The international community, including the Russian Federation, is ready to assist in making these contacts productive; therefore, we have to work further," noted Grigory Karasin.
President Shevchuk, in turn, stated that Pridnestrovie has always proceeded from the policy of good-neighborly relations and advocated the resolution of all issues in relations between the sides at the negotiating table. However, according to the head of state, a climate of confidence was undermined at all negotiation platforms by unilateral actions taken by Moldova against Pridnestrovie. Among these actions, according to Yevgeny Shevchuk, are the criminal prosecution by Moldovan law enforcers against Pridnestrovian officials, military and judicial employees, numerous facts of the deportation of Russian peacekeepers, which is a dangerous trend amid active contacts between Kishinev and Nato.
«This creates certain risks and tension for us. Another sensitive issue for us is Moldova's attempts to block our economic activities. Making a unilateral decision to place the Moldovan law enforcers on the Ukrainian territory near the Pridnestrovian border is regarded as the completion of a full cycle of the blockade of the PMR's foreign economic activities. We believe this goes counter to principled approaches in the negotiation process.
Grigory Karasin emphasised that speaking about approved and uncoordinated decisions to the press is inadmissible. «A success in negotiations depends on both sides' readiness and desire to establish fair and mutually respecting contacts with each other in person and through delegation talks rather than making statements on TV before certain decisions are officially announced," said the Russian deputy minister.
