Tiraspol, 1 June./Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Today was the last day of Senior UN Expert on Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg's visit to Pridnestyrovie. After his previous visit five years ago, a report had been compiled with guidelines to Pridnestrovie's public authorities. During his current visit, he visited a number of social security institutions, talked with representatives of ethnic communities, public organisations and religious denominations, and visited the country's penitentiary institutions. On the last day of the visit, Thomas Hammarberg met President Vadim Krasnoselsky and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vitaly Ignatyev.
Commenting on the results of his visit to journalists after the meeting with the leadership of the Pridnestrovian foreign ministry, the UN expert stressed that he was satisfied with the way his guidelines had been implemented.
"I have specially come to see what has changed. Much has been done to protect people with disabilities, and there is also progress in preventing domestic violence," said Thomas Hammarberg. At the same time, he stressed: "We must admit that human rights are a permanent problem in all countries of the world. And there are always issues to resolve."
Answering journalists' questions, the foreign minister said: "I would like to note Mr Hammarberg's conceptual position, which fully coincides with ours: human rights cannot be restricted. Today, we have discussed in detail the problems of human rights as a whole, directly related to the unresolved Moldo-Pridnestrovian conflict."
According to Vitaly Ignatyev, the parties particularly discussed the problems caused by joint Moldo-Ukrainian border and customs control on the border between Ukraine and Pridnestrovie, including difficulties with the delivery of medicines and food.
"We believe that these problems need to be resolved with broad international support," said Ignatyev. I have thanked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres through Mr Hammarberg for including the Moldo-Pridnestrovian settlement in the 12 priorities of the organisation. We have also asked for assistance through the allocation of a special rapporteur or a monitoring group on the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian settlement, which would help to solve many of the problems caused by the restriction of the rights and freedoms of Pridnestrovians. I am looking forward to the support and understanding of the United Nations."
In turn, Thomas Hammarberg assured the foreign minister that Pridnestrovie's request would be reported to the UN Secretary-General.
