Tiraspol, 13 May. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The results of a large-scale poll, which was held in all cities and districts, were discussed today at a meeting of the Expert Board under Pridnestrovie's MFA.
According to the dean of the social science department of Pridnestrovian State University, Prof. Yelena Bobkova, who ran a group of sociologists, the survey «was large-scale and touched upon very serious set of questions concerning the life of Pridnestrovian society».
When presenting the poll results, it was noted that 89.9% of respondents prefer the eastern vector of the country's development (Eurasian Union and Russia).
71.7% of Pridnestrovians stand for the independence of the PMR and its subsequent free accession to Russia. The MFA notes that these figures fully correlate with the results of the 2006 referendum when over 97% of voters gave the same answer.
18.2% of respondents prefer the integration of independent Pridnestrovie into the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU).
According to the acting minister of the PMR, Vitaly Ignatyev, this result testifies to the fact that Pridnestrovie's foreign policy, aimed, first of all, at a rapprochement with Russia and integration into the Eurasian Union, is still endorsed by public opinion and corresponds to the will of the Pridnestrovian people. «Pridnestrovie's population fully and clearly realises that our principal vector is unchanged… This is the important element, especially in the light of certain expert statements which bring into question the appropriateness of Pridnestrovie's foreign policy," said the minister.
The majority of respondents (82.7%) find the withdrawal of Russian troops from Pridnestrovie inadmissible. Sociologists note that this conforms to the traditional perception of the Russian soldier as the main guarantor of peace and security in Pridnestrovie.
«You all understand what this opinion is based on. On the one hand, people say that the peacekeeping operation is successful, that it is the guarantor of stability and peace in the region. On the other hand, they notice the fact that the operation is a guarantor of their personal security," noted Yelena Bobkova. According to the professor, sociological polls surveying the attitude of Pridnestrovian residents to the peacekeeping operation are periodically held over the course of several years, and each time at least 80% of respondents speak against the withdrawal of Russian military.
In addition, the survey has showed that the majority of respondents (58.8%) consider the foreign political situation disturbing and alarming.
Over a half of respondents (50.4%) believe that the development of international ties is of the highest priority for the country. Besides, the poll has showed that the majority of the population believes the negotiation process is extremely influential for Pridnestrovie's future.
It is recalled that on Victory Day, 9 May, Pridnestrovian President Yevgeny Shevchuk spoke in support of Pridnestrovie's accession to Russia. «During the war we were all united and regardless of nationalities defended our united Motherland. This unites us all. I believe that sooner or later, and rather sooner, we will live in a common country," the president told journalists after laying flowers at the Glory Memorial.
964 respondents of various sexes and ages took part in the questionnaire survey. Respondents represented both urban and rural population of all the administrative-territorial units of the PMR. The survey has a margin of error of 5%.
