Tiraspol, 21 July. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. What's the relationship with Moldova? Why does Pridnestrovie count on the Russian peacekeepers? What's the difference between the PMR and the LNR DNR? Whose is Crimea? These and other question were asked by Ukrainian journalists during President Krasnoselsky's press conference on Friday, 21 July.
The press conference, which was conducted in the House of Official Receptions, was attended by journalists from Ukraine's UNIAN, 1+1, ICTV, Oxamit, as well as from Pridnestrovie's major media outlets.
Pridnestrovie is open to the entire international community, but numerous myths are created about it, the president said at the start of the meeting. «Unfortunately, both Ukrainian and Moldovan citizens are not fully informed about the life of Pridnestrovie," said Krasnoselsky, underscoring that there were no hard questions for him.
The head of state tried to debunk those myths, allowing the Ukrainian journalists to raise any topics. Only one question was asked by a Pridnestrovian outlet at the end of the press conference, which lasted for an hour. There was no obstacle to the curiosity of the Ukrainian colleagues, who were especially interested in the following issues.
What are the results of Krasnoselsky's meetings with Dodon?
News agency UNIAN asked about the results of Krasnoselsky's meetings with Moldovan President Igor Dodon, during which socio-economic and humanitarian issues were discussed. «What has been done and what has yet to be done?» journalist Irina Shevchenko asked.
The president recalled the good will steps takes by Tiraspol and readiness to agree with Moldova about the essential problems relating to the lives of the citizens of both countries, noting that neither Pridnestrovie nor Moldova is ready for the political agenda. He particularly mentioned a settled problem with the access of Moldovan farmers to their land in the Dubossary District, part of which is temporarily controlled by the Moldovan authorities. «Not a single complaint about property rights violation has been submitted to the president," underscored Krasnoselsky.
Besides, according to him, Tiraspol has discontinued ten criminal cases against Moldovan officials. The PMR has also simplified the migration regime and procedure for obtaining Pridnestrovian citizenship. At the same time, public utility tariffs for Moldovan residents living in the PMR have been equalised with those applied in Pridnestrovie, though earlier they had been the same as in Moldova, that is, several times higher. There is no politics in Pridnestrovie's approaches to Romanian-language schools which operate in the PMR but are under the jurisdiction of Moldova.
«Unfortunately, Moldova has not taken any reciprocal steps towards Pridnestrovie in eight months. Only negative ones," Krasnoselsky said, emphasising that the movement towards compromise must be mutual. Instead, not only does Kishinev ignore the PMR's requests but also violates previous commitments by refusing to comply with the agreements signed in previous years, the president explained.
The PMR is the only platform of interaction between Russia and Ukraine
TV channel 1+1 asked about the status of the Pridnestrovian army, peacekeeping operation and the Russian military in the PMR. «There has been an ongoing debate in Ukraine on the issue of a threat that Russia may pose through Pridnestrovie," a 1+1 journalist explained.
Vadim Krasnoselsky explained that the Russian troops are carrying out a peacemaking mission in Pridnestrovie, which has repeatedly proved its functionality and efficiency. Not a single civilian has been killed in the fighting, as there has been none. At the same time, the conflicting parties also take part in the operation, which is also unique. It should be noted that there are also Ukrainian military observers here, interacting with the Russian peacekeepers. In the meantime, both Ukraine and Russia are guarantor states in the negotiating process.
«This is perhaps the only platform today where the military specialists of Ukraine and Russia work together and make consensus decisions on certain peacekeeping issues," noted the president, stressing that there have been no armed conflicts in the region in 25 years.
According to Krasnoselsky, it was Russia that stopped the bloodshed in Pridnestrovie, which is remembered and valued in Pridnestrovie.
«We have achieved a lot in 25 years, but the most important thing is that we have defended peace… When they say that we are not recognised by the international community, this is very subjective. What's the value of recognised countries at war?» he asked.
DNR, LNR and PMR
«What's the difference between the PMR and the LNR and DNR?» asked an ICTV journalist after discussion of the alleged involvement of Pridnestrovians in the Donbass conflict. The president called the Ukrainian events a civil confrontation and a war in which not only Ukrainian citizens take part but also volunteers from European countries, for example, Great Britain. «What's now? Shall Ukraine break diplomatic relations with other countries?» Krasnoselsky asked rhetorically.
At the same time, the president pointed out the main difference between the PMR and the Donbass republics.
Pridnestrovie emerged at the stage of a geopolitical disaster — the collapse of the USSR in 1991. This collapse happened with the consent of all geopolitical actors. Besides, Krasnoselsky said, the Moldovan parliament had actually abandoned Pridnestrovie, by recognising in the early 1990s the illegality of the establishment of the MSSR through the accession of Bessarabia to the MASSR in 1940. Therefore, during the fall of the USSR, there were de facto two state entities on the territory of the MSSR: Moldova and Pridnestrovie.
«In the situation where the mother country abandons you, and neither Russia nor Ukraine needs you, the people of Pridnestrovie made the only choice possible — declared the establishment of a union republic and then its independence. Therefore, in terms of international law, we have the right to be recognised as an independent state," noted the president.
On the other hand, Krasnoselsky believes, the LNR and DNR has appeared as a result of the collision of current geopolitical interests of the superpowers.
Russia's assistance
«Don't you feel that the energy, efforts, contacts that Russia sends to Pridnestrovie have diminished?» the journalists asked Krasnoselsky.
The president said Russia continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the country. This includes support for Pridnestrovian pensioners and preferential terms for the use of Russian natural gas. Krasnoselsky explained that the PMR participates in the transit of gas, for which Russia also pays with gas.
«We could monetise it, as every country does, but we considered it fair to distribute this gas to socially unprotected layers of society, noting that Pridnestrovian pensioners are provided with gas free of charge but within a social norm.
Let's put politics aside
«Are you interested in the expansion of the Ukrainian influence in Pridnestrovie?» asked a Ukrainian journalist.
Replying to the question, Krasnoselsky recalled that over 150,000 ethnic Ukrainians live in Pridnestrovie, so Ukrainian culture and identity were one of the constituent elements of Pridnestrovie's identity.
«We want to cooperate with Ukraine on cultural, humanitarian, economic issues. Let's put politics aside and solve the issues that bring the citizens of Ukraine and Pridnestrovie closer together," the president said, stressing that Tiraspol carries on a cultural dialogue with many European countries.
«Whose is Crimea?»
Krasnoselsky was suddenly asked the most popular question in Ukraine.
«I've been waiting for this question," the president said with a smile.
«The belonging of Crimea is a matter of consequence, and I have already named the reason — the collision of the geopolitical interests of the two superpowers. So, as a result, under the Ukrainian constitution, this is Ukraine's territory, and under the Russian constitution, it is Russia's. What can be done about it? This is the consequence," concluded the president.
