Tiraspol, 26 September. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. There were two issues on the agenda of today's meeting of the Security Council — the current situation in the negotiating process, in particular, issues related to Pridnestrovian number plates, and a 2018 draft budget, the presidential press service reports.
The foreign minister made a report on the first agenda item. Vitaly ignatyev recalled that negotiations on the possibility of Pridnestrovian vehicles participating in international traffic had been intensified in 2015. The minister referred to that issue as humanitarian and requiring an expeditious solution.
"We have held a number of meetings over this period. This issue has been enshrined in the Berlin Protocol, signed in June 2016. It has been discussed with an emphasis on the early resolution of the problem. In the end, we have come to certain positions. Today they coincide on many points, but there are also fundamental differences. Pridnestrovie, while understanding the humanitarian importance, has acted constructively and has tried to find a concrete solution to help Pridnestrovian citizens to ensure the exercise of their inalienable rights and freedoms," Ignatyev told the colleagues.
Speaking about the Pridnestrovian position, he underscored that our state had agreed to Pridnestrovian number plates being neutral. Pridnestrovie also agreed to the neutral design of registration certificates. Another important point was to provide the Moldovan side with access to a specialised database that would take into account information on motorists participating in international road traffic. The Pridnestrovian side insisted, in the meantime, on applying the generally accepted practice of car registration and the issuance of registration certificates locally, i.e. in Pridnestrovie.
"This is the main stumbling block today that does not suit Moldova. Therefore, despite our lengthy negotiations — there have been five meetings of working export groups today — we are now faced with a dilemma: how and where a vehicle will undergo the initial registration procedure. The Moldovan side insists on vehicles being registered by Moldova's Agency of Public Services in Moldova. We believe this should be done in Pridnestrovie without creating additional administrative barriers for our citizens," said the minister.
According to Vitaly Ignatyev, there are other aspects that require clarification. Council members also discussed all the relevant points. The president called on them to express opinions and propose solutions.
The head of the government, Alexander Martynov, told the council about the draft budget. According to him, a number of the bill provisions provides for reduced tax burden on the economy.
Before proceeding to the government's plans, Martynov recalled the imbalances in the economy and the challenges that the current leadership had had to face. Assessing the situation the new government had faced, Martynov called it a "deep structural crisis". The prime minister enumerated the main anti-crisis measures that had been adopted, described the projected parameters for the next year's budget, outlined potential sources of state budget replenishment and prospects to reach a no-deficit level under various circumstances.
