Tiraspol, 22 June. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Russia's Krasnodar Kray hosted the 15th International Youth Forum Slavic Commonwealth. The forum included a theoretical and practical conference of young scientists, an exhibition forum of social projects, a festival of students' creative work and other events. Pridnestrovie's deputy foreign minister, Igor Shornikov, took part in the forum's business programme, the website of the Eurasian Pridnestrovie media centre reports.
The diplomat gave a lecture «Russia-Pridnestrovie: ways of unity and development» which focused on cooperation between the two states in the cultural and humanitarian spheres. Igor Shornikov spoke, in particular, about Russia's role in maintaining peace and stability on the Dniester, as well as about the assistance Russia provides to Pridnestrovie through ANO Eurasian Integration. «Russia invests in Pridnestrovie, first of all, in its human capital. Attending to a decent level of healthcare and education, Russia believes in Pridnestrovie's peaceful and prosperous future," he underscored.
The audience took much interest in the geopolitical preferences of Pridnestrovians. According to Igor Shornikov, about 90% of republic residents see their future in unity with Russia. Besides, according to sociological surveys, the considerable majority of the PMR's citizens want the country to become part of the Russian Federation. According to the diplomat, it is not only because of the regular assistance provided by Russia for many years, but a cultural and historical tradition.
«Pridnestrovie was joined to the Russian Empire at the end of the 18th century. A century later the Pridnestrovian land turned into one of the most prosperous regions of Russia. In the Soviet era, the social and economic progress became even more considerable. Pridnestrovie is still employing the results of the intensive development of the region in the second half of the 20th century," said the diplomat. The great confidence Pridnestrovians have in Russia can be explained, according to Igor Shornikov, by Russia's contemporary active and balanced foreign policy.
The lecture also touched upon the problem of history perversion. According to the diplomat, Russia managed to give an adequate response to this challenge. «It is no longer a shame to be a patriot in Russia. People see how rapidly their country develops and gets modernised, how the state's international authority grows, and they respect their history and take pride in Russia's new victories," said Igor Shornikov. He cited the Immortal Regiment event as an example, which took place not only in Russia, but also in many countries of the world. In Pridnestrovie over 26,000 people joined this event.
