Tiraspol, 24 March. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The Palace of Republic has hosted today the 2nd Congress of the Pridnestrovian People's Forum (PPF), which was attended by 516 delegates from all Pridnestrovie. The forum was also attended by President Vadim Krasnoselsky, who is the leader of the forum, as well as Chairman of the Government Alexander Martynov and Supreme Council speaker Alexander Shcherba.
The PPF was formed last year and brought together the most popular non-government organisations, such as the Republican Union of Defenders of Pridnestrovie, Pridnestrovian Association of Afghan War Veterans, United Council of Labour Collectives and others.
The head of state addressed the gathering, highlighting Pridnestrovie's most important problems, both external and internal. In particular, the president pointed out that the consolidation of power and society was necessary to address them.
«As never before do we need the consolidation of power. Not monopolisation, but consolidation in which all branches of power work to implement a common programme for the benefit of the people," underscored Krasnoselsky.
He also noted the importance of civil society for the state, pointing out its public control function over the executive branch of power.
«I want to emphasise the special importance of public control and civil society institutions whose bright representatives are undoubtedly the Pridnestrovian People's Forum, Public Chamber, Advisory Assembly of First Deputies and other non-governmental organisations… One of the most important tasks of our domestic policy is to resume the direct dialogue between power and society. The activities of all officials in the country must be transparent and understandable," said the president.
Referring to foreign policy issues facing Pridnestrovie today, the president said: «I have promised in my People's Programme to pursue the course of independence, to strengthen the country's sovereignty, to do my best for Pridnestrovie to be an integral part of the Russian world. I have promised to continue the practice of keeping peaceful and fruitful relations with our neighbours and create conditions to incarnate the will of the Pridnestrovian people expressed during the 2006 referendum. These axioms determine our practical steps in the field of foreign policy.»
Vadim Krasnoselsky also dwelt on the problem of joint Moldovan-Ukrainian control at the Kuchurgan crossing point located at the Ukrainian-Pridnestrovian border.
During the work of the congress, the co-chair of the PPF, Igor Buga, put forward a proposal to revive popular diplomacy practices which had played an important part at the initial stage of the formation of Pridnestrovie's statehood.
Both the need for public control and the development of popular diplomacy were reflected in the final resolution, adopted by all the Congress delegates.
The resolution also gives a positive assessment of the work of both the president and the government and the Supreme Council.
