The journalists showed interest in the situation inside Pridnestrovie and around it. Special attention was given to the state's economic situation.
The president noted that apart from domestic difficulties external factors are exerting serious influence on the economy. There are problems caused by the world crisis, regional and domestic. There is uncertainty with raw material supply and market entry. The reduction in revenues has forced us to take the difficult decision — to cut expenses. However, we secure the stability of the national currency rate to avoid a price turmoil. It was the right thing to do from the point of view of strategic management," said the president.
According to the president's press service, Yevgeny Shevchuk noted that «pain shock is far more serious if the devaluation of a national currency leads to hyperinflation.»
«Our measures aimed at protecting the revenues of a low-bracket category of the population because the rouble devaluation will affect them first of all," he said, adding that a number of major economic agents insisted on the rouble devaluation. «This would have supported their competitive ability on markets but in fact due to the cheapening of their employees' labour," clarified the president.
It was also talked that the preferential regime for the Pridnestrovian enterprises exporting production to the EU is supposed to be cancelled since 1 January 2016. «Changing the rules and deteriorating the conditions for economic development will seriously strike the budget," said the president.
During the meeting it was also noted that Pridnestrovie has not only faced new external challenges, but for many years has been subject to restrictions and blockade imposed by Moldova.
«We must address the issues of socio-economic cooperation and freedom of movement, create conditions for lifting trade barriers …
But our calls for constructive cooperation are not heard," noted the president. «The tools for the prosecution of economic war against Pridnestrovie have been created to achieve a convenient political result. This is an element of compulsion, certain political violence.»
At the same time, Yevgeny Shevchuk noted, according to the 1997 Memorandum Pridnestrovie has the right to establish its own economic contacts.
«We expect the situation around Pridnestrovie will worsen. There are evident signals. There were attempts to restrict the movement of our citizens in the vehicles with Pridnestrovie's licence plates through the Moldo-Ukrainian border," noted the president. «Moreover, we have the information that Ukraine is holding consultations on the stationing of the Moldovan customs on the Ukraine-Pridnestrovie border.»
