Tiraspol, 26 December. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Pridnestrovian President Vadim Krasnoselsky said in an interview with the news agency Regnum that Pridnestrovie's vector lied in openness and transparency, "in its further strengthening as a socio-oriented market-driven state."
The journalist was interested in the situation the country had been at the moment of leadership change, the results of the first year of presidency and plans for the future.
"Of course, the situation at the end of December 2016 and the start of January 2017 was not easy. For example, the amount of gold and foreign currency reserves was down $34.6 million as of 1 January. Moreover, payments of state obligations on pensions, allowances and public-sector salaries were not made at the expense of budget receipts but rather at the expense of 'printing press'," said the president.
According to Vadim Krasnoselsky, about 1 billion roubles, which was the equivalent of $65 million, were issued back then. There were no foreign exchange at exchange offices and banks. The majority of the most profitable public sector enterprises worked with consumers and suppliers of raw materials through intermediaries. That is, a system was created to wash away foreign exchange from the country and avoid taxes, the president said.
"I ran for the presidency with the programme of real activities — Krasnoselsky's Popular Programme — and the team of 'statist' managers. Thanks to cost optimisation, the integrated programme that the government has worked out, including the destruction of 'grey schemes', we have already managed to return millions of dollars to the economy. Transparent are such significant for Pridnestrovie's economy enterprises as Moldova Steel Works and Pridnestrovian Railway. Pensions and salaries are paid in full. The state does not deprive any longer people of their earnings; it has returned deserved benefits to pensioners, disabled people and large families. Foreign exchange is available to citizens. We have not laid off public sector workers, have not re-organised any school, starting to optimise the bureaucracy instead," noted the president.
As of 1 October 2017, according to Krasnoselsky, "we were able to create 1,595 jobs in the country and issues 991 patents. These are good figures for the PMR."
Answering a question whether the country would be able to further remain socio-oriented, the president underscored that there were funds for socially protected items in the 2018 budget.
"The 2018 budget specially provides for the payment of Soviet-era deposits, construction and overhaul of housing and social infrastructure in cities and villages. We are not going to abandon the benefits and other social support measures that have been returned to people. I mean 'frozen' utility tariffs and free natural gas for pensioners," said Krasnoselsky.
