Tiraspol, 13 June. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The speaker of the Pridnestrovian parliament, Alexander Scherba, summed up the results of the hearings held in Russia's State Duma on the situation around Pridnestrovie. According to Scherba, round table participants maintained that the economic and social blow to Pridnestrovie was a blow to the integration processes taking place in the Eurasian economic space, in the Customs Union.
«In these circumstances, especially important are the permanent contacts between the Pridnestrovian leadership and their Russian colleagues. We are listened to and, most importantly, heard by both the Russian authorities and the expert community. Besides, during the hearings experts expressed their views, using less diplomatic vocabulary and calling things by their proper names," said Scherba.
As a result of the hearings, a document containing three sets of recommendations was adopted. The first set, according to Scherba, is intended for the Moldovan leadership, calling them to stop unilateral actions against Pridnestrovie and resume negotiations in the «5+2» format. The second is addressed to the presidents of the PMR and Moldova as the heads of the conflicting parties. There are also proposals to Ukraine, but most importantly, according to Scherba, the recommendations are also addressed to Russia’s federal and regional authorities.
«The documents repeatedly stipulate that Russia will prevent any methods and measures of exerting pressure on Pridnestrovie and will continue to discharge its functions as a guarantor in the negotiating process and assure the agreements reached by the parties, as well as the peacekeeping mission. Besides, Russia will not allow the deterioration of the socio-economic situation in Pridnestrovie. This is the fact that was recorded on paper," said Scherba.
According to him, but for Russia's assistance, it would have been impossible to conclude a power supply contract between MGRES and Moldova's state-run company Energocom.
«We were also promised that Russia would consider providing compensatory payments to the Pridnestrovian economy for the losses the country's business entities and budget will incur as a result of the unilateral blockade measures taken by Kishinev and Kiev. We were assured that Russia would take every opportunity to ensure that the existing border crossing regime at our border with Ukraine will be lifted. In this regard, there was a separate appeal by the Russians to the Moldovan president," the Supreme Council's press service quotes Alexander Scherba as saying.
In general, according to Scherba, the Russian experts «expressed dismay at everything that was happening around the republic and within it; they noted with regret that all unfriendly actions by our neighbours could be a forerunner of Pridnestrovie's 'appeasement' by force. It is therefore essential to prevent the escalation of the conflict from its current economic and political phase into a hot one.»
Scherba stressed that Russia would remain Pridnestrovie's diplomatic, economic and peacekeeping supporter.
«We were clearly told: we are not just part of the Russian world; we are part of the interests of the Russian Federation. This means that all methods and ways of protecting the rights of Russian citizens and compatriots living in Pridnestrovie will be used. This was reflected in the final resolution of the round table," he concluded.
