Tiraspol, 12 September. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. A Ukrainian delegation, led by the special representative on the Pridnestrovian settlement, Viktor Kryzhanovsky, has come to Pridnestrovie on an official visit. He had already held the same position in 2008−2010 and was again appointed to that post last week by the Ukrainian president.
«I haven’t been to Pridnestrovie for seven years. The president has asked me to return to the official post of Ukraine’s special representative on the Pridnestrovian settlement. Since I have already dealt with this issue, it is easier for me to fathom this subject. On the other hand, I know how difficult it is. But we never retreat in the face of difficulties. I’ve already had important meetings in Kishinev. I want to know what the current trends in the negotiating process are, what are positive and negative points, where we can seek common ground," the president’s press service cites Kryzhanovsky as saying.
Kryzhanovsky stated that seven years after his absence in Pridnestrovie «things are right where they started» in the negotiating process. «As a result-oriented person, I’d like to achieve more. I suggest that the sides frankly express their positions. There is no place for sentiments. We must join the work that affects a large number of people living in Pridnestrovie, Moldova and Ukraine," he believes.
«I'm glad you are the person who has been appointed special representative as you are well aware of the history of Pridnestrovie and Moldova, as well as our relations. It was not easy before, but we managed to find common ground; there used to be a good cultural and humanitarian exchange," underscored President Vadim Krasnoselsky.
Speaking about relations with Ukraine, the president stressed that they were being affected by external factors. He underscored that Pridnestrovie was interested in a stable and peace-loving neighbour. The interlocutors also shared the idea that every state strives to ensure its own security.
«The problem of many politicians and journalists is that they try to divide people into those who are for and those who are against. But there is a third category — those who want to keep good relations with both Russia and Ukraine. Unfortunately, the two countries have clashed in geopolitical fighting, and the end is not yet in sight. Why should Pridnestrovie be held hostage to this relationship? I recently invited Ukrainian journalists to come to see real situation. They walked over Tiraspol and Bendery and asked people where Russian tanks were deployed. As it turned out, nowhere. I’ve reached my goal — none of the journalists said Pridnestrovie posed a military threat to Ukraine.
There is a lot of speculation about our recognised or non-recognised status, but over 25 years no man has died in Pridnerstrovie as a result of combat operations. The main thing is peace, and the rest is a matter of negotiations. We regard Ukraine as a guarantor of the negotiating process. The problem of the '5+2' format is that this venue has is becoming merely consultative. Its decisions are not implemented. The last decisions, which were made on 2 and 3 July in Berlin, have not been implemented by the Moldovan side. It’s alarming and reduces the degree of liability. Moldova does not fulfil any of the two hundred agreements. They duplicate each other, which results in confusion. I have approached the guarantors of the negotiating process — Russia and Ukraine — with a request to audit all the agreements and call to account the side who is to blame for failing to execute them. What shall we agree about in the future if the current agreements are not executed," the president asked Kryzhanovsky.
The president recalled the steps taken by Pridnestrovie, noting that Moldova had not taken any reciprocal steps.
«During our meeting with Igor Dodon on 30 March, I proposed the Moldovan president to request Sebastian Kurz to call a '5+2' meeting. There was a direct opportunity to resume negotiations, but the Moldovan side refused. In the meantime, there are public statements about readiness to resume the dialogue. But facts are different. We can see the stagnation of the negotiating process today. The first meeting with Igor Dodon took place on 4 January 2017. Back then I proposed the Moldovan president to avoid discussing political issues, noting that neither we nor they were ready for political dialogue. I proposed to deal with economic, humanitarian, cultural issues, the solution of which could bring the two sides closer together. We did not wait and were the first to make five concessions, and there has been nothing in response," said Krasnoselsky.
He also noted he was glad to resume the dialogue with such an experienced Ukrainian politician and expressed the hope for further fruitful cooperation.
