Tiraspol, 27 May. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Yesterday, Russia's Moskovsky Komsomolets daily published an interview with the Pridnestrovian president, Yevgeny Shevchuk. The head of state answered a number of questions, including those about relations between Pridnestrovie and the neighbouring countries — Moldova and Ukraine.
As was noted by Yevgeny Shevchuk, «we are interested in stability both at home and in the neighbouring states, with which we still seek to develop friendly. mutually beneficial relations and make efforts to resume substantive work within the framework of the negotiation process.»
The head of state also told journalists that in the recent years, relations with Ukraine have become very aggravated. So, last year Ukraine advanced its military forces to the PMR's border and began to dig up a ditch along the border. In addition, according to the head of state, the problem of the freedom of movement of Pridnestrovian citizens — male Russian citizens cannot cross the Ukrainian border — has not been solved so far. All Pridnestrovian diplomats are not able to enter Ukraine.
«There are many problems with our cargoes, as well as with cargoes for the Russian peacekeepers. Now Moldova and Ukraine are taking new measures to strengthen the blockade. New joint checkpoints are being established on the border with Pridnestrovie, and the permit procedures for goods and citizens are likely to change as well. This is specially designed to hit Ptidnestrovie's economy. Moldovan officials do not hesitate to admit it in their interviews, expressing hope that the economic pressure will help to force Pridnestrovie into Moldova's legal framework this way or another," Yevgeny Shevchuk underscored.
The president also added it may seem to an outsider that Moldova is ready to change its radical approaches and even return to the negotiating table, which has been recently announced.
«We keep calling on our Moldovan partners to refuse the policy of pressure and blackmail as it does not in any way contribute to the normalisation of our relations. Making positive statements is not enough for a normal dialogue — they must be substantiated with positive concrete deeds. We proceed from the fact that any issues and contradictions must be discussed at the negotiating table. There are a number of settlement formats worked out throughout the years of negotiations. These include expert groups, meetings of the political representatives, regular meetings with negotiation mediators and, finally, 5+2 permanent conference format," underscored the president.
According to Yevgeny Shevchuk, Pridnestrovie is ready to participate in the work of the 5+2 format «any time given that there is groundwork and solutions ready to be discussed».
«There are currently the whole range of proposals on the negotiating table, some of which have been presented by the Pridnestrovian side, that may form the basis for the constructive work. But to achieve a result, Pridnestrovie's only desire is not enough. The Moldovan side has not clarified its position on the existing draft documents," said the Pridnestrovian president.
In addition, journalists wanted to know Pridnestrovie's attitude towards military cooperation between Moldova and Romania.
«We are seriously concerned by the recent flagrant actions taken by Romania — the violation of our airspace by Romanian aircraft which made several unsanctioned flights over the Security Zone to perform an intelligence aerial survey. This is the gross violation of the operational procedures established by the corresponding documents and may destabilise the situation in the Security Zone. Our MFA on various occasions requested official Bucuresti to cease such non-constructive actions, but our requests were ignored," noted Yevgeny Shevchuk.
The president also said that the Moldovan side did not respond to the appeals by the Pridnestrovian delegation about the inadmissibility of those flights over Pridnestrovie's territory either.
