Tiraspol, 7 July. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Russia's State Duma member, Konstantin Zatulin, noted the need to provide assistance to the country and resume investments.
«We must make the people of Pridnestrovie believe that Russia will never abandon them," said Zatulin. According to him, mothers with Russian citizenship living in Pridnestrovie should be given the opportunity to take advantage of the maternal capital programme. He noticed that over 200,000 Pridenstrovians are Russian citizens, and the rest are compatriots.
«It would be a move that would meet great satisfaction in Pridnestrovie," believes the MP.
Zatulin also raised the issue of a Moldo-Ukrainian post at the Kuchurgan checkpoint. According to him, the Moldovan and Ukrainian authorities were motivated by the desire to strengthen their blockade measures against Pridnestrovie.
«It is a blockade of foreign economic activities and attempts to limit the deployment of our peacekeepers. This is testified by the recent provocations. I remind you about the expulsion of five diplomats, four of whom are members of the military attaché 's office," said Zatulin.
The MP believes there is a «temptation on the part of Ukraine and Moldova to compel Pridnestrovie to surrender on their conditions.» «Of course, this is accompanied by a desire to harm Russia and Russian citizens living in Pridnestrovie," he added.
«I want to particularly emphasise that we must, of course, take into account our own experience when we are doing business with Pridnestrovie. We had enough illusions in the past about successive presidents of Moldova; we had waited when Lucinschi would become president as under Snegur that conflict had been unleashed; we thought that that man, who had been well-known in the USSR, would not proceed from any nationalistic prejudice. Unfortunately, we were mistaken," recalled Zatulin.
He also recalled unfulfilled expectations from the coming to power of Communist Vladimir Voronin.
«He went the other way and, as already said, disrupted a draft plan which was on the verge of signing. Carpets were unfolded for the distinguished guests to take part in signing the document, but a call from Brussels made Voronin change his mind," he continued.
«And today, unfortunately, we are making advances. But, unfortunately, Igor Dodon also supported the establishment of these posts," added Zatulin.
Zatulin's position on this issue was supported by Communist MP Mikhail Shchapov. In his speech, he described the consequences of the crisis situation in Pridnestrovie. According to Shchapov, the establishment of Moldo-Ukrainian posts at the PMR's border may result in financial losses.
«There are about 20,000 individual entrepreneurs in Pridnestrovie. Additional transport costs under triple customs control, payments to Moldovan brokerage companies, the need to obtain Moldovan import licences for a number of goods will cost for Pridnestrovian entrepreneurs from 150 to 300 million Russian roubles. Let's speak honestly: they won't survive," believes Shchapov. According to him, the entrepreneurs will simply stop working.
«With their family members, 55,000 people will remain without means of subsistence," noted the MP.
