Tiraspol, 20 July. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Pridnestrovie is proposing to hold an emergency meeting of «The permanent Conference on Political Issues…», the so-called 5+2 format, the acting foreign minister of Pridnestrovie told journalists. «Today I sent an official address to all the 5+2 participants with an initiative to hold an extraordinary meeting of 'The Permanent Conference…”, devoted exclusively to the railway communication, in order to find the quickest way out of this critical situation within this international format,” said the minister.
In December 2015 Moldovan and Ukrainian authorities changed the procedure of railway deliveries without consulting with Pridnestrovie. As a result, the Pridnestrovian railway was in fact excluded from the scheme of importing cargoes to the republic. These operations have been performed by exclusively Moldovan railway engines.
Thus decision led to considerable losses incurred by GUKP Pridnestrovian Railway, which totalled over 5 million roubles only in the first quarter of 2016.
This decision was further aggravated by a ban on the importation of excisable goods through the Slobodka Export railway station, Pridnestrovie's MFA reported on 12 July. According to Vitaly Ignatyev, this discriminatory decision is negatively affecting the Pridnestrovian economy as well. The country's enterprises cannot import goods, including fuels and lubricants, through Ukraine. During the harvest period, when agrarians have to fill up agricultural machines, such actions by Moldova and Ukraine may provoke not only a fuel but also a food crisis in Pridnestrovie.
Vitaly Ignatyev underscored that the MFA of the PMR would employ all political and diplomatic instruments available to prevent the development of this negative scenario.
In addition to initiating an extraordinary round of 5+2 format negotiations, the Pridnestrovian foreign ministry has also proposed to hold a meeting of expert groups on this issue. Moldova has already given its consent, and the sides will meet in Kishinev tomorrow. Experts will discuss both the problem of importing excisable goods and a ban on Pridnestrovian railway engines from delivering cargoes.
According to the minister, «the Pridnestrovian side insists on abandoning any unilateral actions that worsen conditions for citizens and can lead to serious social and humanitarian consequences». He says steps taken by Moldova and Ukraine outside the negotiation process may disrupt the execution of the agreements reached during the previous 5+2 meeting in Berlin.
«This unilateral decision is undermining the efforts of all international participants within the negotiation process. The groundwork, the decisions we agreed on during the Berlin and Bavarian meetings may be levelled out," said the minister.
