Tiraspol, 20 May. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The decision by Ukraine's State Agency for Food Safety and Consumer Protection to ban the transit of food to the PMR without the approval of the Moldovan authorities is aimed to place food imports to Pridnestrovie under Kishinev's full control, Supreme Council member Andrey Safonov believes.
«As was the case with our exports back in 2006, they want all our goods to have Moldova-issued certificates. And at the right moment the 'certification noose' can be tightened," he wrote on his Facebook page.
According to Safonov, the initial stage will not see a total ban on the import of food to the PMR from Ukraine. But in the future the Moldovan authorities will be able to use this leverage to force Pridnestrovie to start negotiations on accession to Moldova and the withdrawal of Russian troops.
«At first, the Kishinev authorities will mechanically approve all import applications to prove that all blockade allegations are 'unjustified'. A blow may be delivered later when everyone eventually relaxes and thinks: 'It's not as bad as it seems'," the MP predicts.
In the meantime, according to Safonov, this plan will fail due to several factors. Thus, the legislator is confident that the country's industry and agriculture will «partially compensate for any kind of restrictions», with Pridnestrovie maintaining Russia's political and economic support.
«The experience of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has shown that Moscow may provide direct financial assistance in the face of a crisis. Of course, it must be absolutely transparent," Safonov says.
Also, according to him, Ukraine's decision runs counter its own interests, and Pridnestrovie will have to «work quietly and patiently» to see it abolished.
At the same time, the MP believes that in the current situation the Supreme Council will have to adopt a law on principles of the negotiating process with Moldova on third reading. According to Safonova, this will clearly define the boundaries of an acceptable compromise in the negotiating process and to a certain extent will make pressure on Pridnestrovie meaningless, whereas now the country's opponents apply new restrictions, hoping that «the PMR will falter and surrender».
It was reported yesterday that Ukraine's State Agency for Food Safety and Consumer Protection made a decision to put a ban on the transit of food to Pridnestrovie since 20 May if the transit has not been authorised by Moldova's National Agency for Food Security.
According to the information provided by the agriculture minister, Efimiy Koval, the ban may apply not only to the goods that come through Ukraine but also the products manufactured in Ukraine.
