At the meeting the president was handed over a petition addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin. We recall that there was a forum in Tiraspol where representatives of 66 public organisations decided to request the Russian president as the leader of a state guaranteeing peace in Pridnestrovie to protect the Ridnestrovian people in case of need.
The presidential press office reports that NGO members requested Yevgeny Shevchuk to assist in passing the petition to Vladimir Putin. They informed the president that representatives of 137 public organisations from all over Pridnestrovie had put their signatures to the petition to the Russian president.
The NGO leaders expressed the concern of Pridnestrovie's civil society and its citizens on the whole: as a result of external factors and restricting actions by Moldova and Ukraine, the socio-economic situation in Pridnestrovie was aggravating. «Never before over 25 years of its existence has the republic faced such a difficult situation when we are squeezed from both sides," said Valerian Tulgara, chairman of Pridnestrovie's Union of Moldavians.
It was noted during the meeting that particularly disturbing to the Pridnestrovians was a rise in tensions around the republic: Ukraine was increasing the number of troops and pieces of machinery near the border with Pridnestrovie; Moldova's National Army was holding joint military exercises with the National Guard of North Carolina (USA) in the Security Zone. In addition, Ukraine's parliament took the decision to denounce the agreement on transit of the Russian troops to Pridnestrovie.
«We believe under present circumstances it is essential to strengthen the foundation of the peacekeeping mission, make every endeavour to secure peace through tools and mechanisms available today," said the president. Yevgeny Shevchuk also pointed out that the peacekeeping operation was ongoing despite changing conditions.
«Pridnestrovie has endured the horrors of war; many of us have lost relatives and friends. That is why those who have witnessed all tragic instances of 1992 are especially sensitive to the present events. The republic that has experienced the war is witnessing now stages of economic war. We must do our utmost to prevent the reiteration of bloodshed," underscored the president. He also noted that «despite shortage of budget revenues, we must draw special attention to maintaining at a high level the defence capability of our army and law enforcement agencies.»
The head of state highlighted the fact that Pridnestrovie had always advocated cooperation and, in the first place, economic cooperation. «We consider that despite the existing political discords between Tiraspol and Kishinev on development vectors and priorities, sanctions and economic pressure cannot be used to promote poverty. Unfortunately, such methods have become popular of late. This way is straightforward: first, economic restrictions and problems are created to promote poverty, and then this is used to change a political course of the state," said the president.
The head of state called on Pridnestrovie's public organisations and citizens to be cautious about information spread by the media. «These actions are aimed at 'rousing', 'sowing the seeds' of doubt, destabilising the situation. Half of news items spread in the media are not confirmed and are contrary to fact," said the president.
Yevgeny Shevchuk specially emphasised that «Pridnestrovian and Ukrainian nations were neighbours.» «We will never take the Ukrainian people as an enemy or an aggressor," said the head of state.
The NGO members expressed hope that the Russian leadership would draw special attention to the situation in Pridnestrovie, given that a significant segment of the population is Russian citizens. «We hope the Russian leadership will manage to find solutions that would enable us to live, bring up our children and preserve our territory," noted Liudmila Malchukova, head of Bendery's Pamyat (Memory) Union.
«I understand and share the growing concern of our citizens," the president assured the NGO leaders. Yevgeny Shevchuk proposed to inform at first Russia's deputy prime minister and the president's special envoy on Pridnestrovie, Dmitriy Rogozin on the petition addressed to Vladimir Putin. «As far as I am concerned, I will assist in sending and delivering this request to the addressee in the shortest possible time. I am sure your request will be considered, and Russia as a guarantor state and a peacemaker will make efforts in the international arena to ease tensions in Pridnestrovie in terms of existing threats," concluded the head of state.
Yevgeny Shevchuk thanked the public organisations «for their active civil position, broad cooperation with citizens and assistance to the public authorities in solving various issues.»
