The PMR President gathered representatives of Pridnestrovie for a meeting of expert groups working in the frameworks of the negotiation process with the Republic of Moldova. The officials informed the President about the activities of the working bodies of the “Permanent Meeting ...” format in relevant spheres. Sergei Obolonik introduced the economic issues. The agenda of represented group includes banking issues, barriers in the implementation of foreign economic activity by economic entities of Pridnestrovie (we are talking about joint Moldovan-Ukrainian control in Kuchurgan, blocking the work on reconciliation of registers of imported goods, restrictions on the issue of Euro 1 export certificates), licensing (refusal to issue licenses to exporters of scrap of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as import of certain types of products). Aspects that impede the activities of the Pridnestrovian enterprises of the textile and footwear industry, MMZ, Tiraspoltransgaz- Pridnestrovie remain relevant. The issues of veterinary and phytosanitary control. The problem of fuels and lubricants expertise has not been resolved.
Interconnected with the economic direction and issues related to railway traffic. The state of affairs of the Railways was informed by Yuri Oleinik regarding the situation in this direction, noting that most of the problems have a long history. The activities of the expert (working) group of the banking profile are closely related to the economy. The Chairman of the PRB Vladislav Tidva indicated that in addition to the problems associated with closing the accounts of Pridnestrovian enterprises in Moldovan banks, the issue of converting leu, as well as restrictions on the use of international payment systems Visa and Mastercard, are being discussed. Vadim Krasnoselsky, discussing this issue, noted that it was not only and not so much about the economy, but about social policy and the violation of human rights. The Ombudsman’s interaction with Vyacheslav Kosinsky told about the situation with the Ombudsman’s interaction. He noted the unwillingness of the Moldovan side to engage in practical work and the lack of interest among Moldovan colleagues in the needs and rights of Pridnestrovians. The lack of constructivism on the part of Moldova was also mentioned by Alexei Tsurcan. He represents Pridnestrovie in the expert (working) group on healthcare. One of the most acute problems in this field today is the import of medicines, medical devices and dietary supplements. The problem is that Moldova insists on using its register of medicines admissible for importation, citing its identity as Pridnestrovian, which is absolutely untrue. Another Moldovan argument - is the lack of special equipment for conducting examinations in Pridnestrovie - is also irrelevant: according to Alexei Tsurcan, there is a device (liquid chromatograph for determining the composition of medications and the presence of potent substances).
Foreign minister reported on foreign policy related to education. Two main areas were outlined: apostille of diplomas of Pridnestrovian universities and the functioning of schools with teaching based on Latin scripts. Alla Nikolyuk reported on citizens' appeals related to the non-recognition of apostilled education documents by Ukraine and Germany. These countries require the so-called super legalization. There is no progress in resolving this issue from the Moldovan side. The most discussed in the expert (working) group on education is the topic of schools, which are usually called Romanian. Usually, five educational institutions are visited. They are constantly visited by experts, both Pridnestrovian and international. There are three more schools (in Bendery, Grigoriopol and Dubossary) whose doors are closed for supervisors. According to Alla Nicoliuc, “the new representatives of the Moldovan side in the working group gave a careful promise to think about the possibility of visiting these schools in August this year”. Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that the issue of the functioning of schools with teaching based on Latin scripts has always been overly politicized. The PMR President emphasized that there are 34 Moldovan schools and 92 kindergartens in the territory of Pridnestrovie, in which the educational process is organized using the Moldavian language as well as universities of the republic. It is very important that the international community possesses this information along with information about how many Russian schools are closed in Moldova, and about the absence of Moldovan schools as such (they were officially replaced by Romanian ones).
The topic of the Romanian schools was also touched upon when discussing the work of the expert group on combating crime. This direction is related to the issue of closing criminal cases. Vadim Krasnoselsky reminded that they should be considered in three separate blocks: cases related to the functioning of schools in Pridnestrovie with teaching based on Latin scripts, those related to land use in the Dubossary district, and criminal cases of other directions. Questions on the first two groups should be removed long ago, as agreements on these aspects have been reached, the PMR President considers. He insists on the need for an audit of criminal cases and the exchange of lists. The Pridnestrovian side has repeatedly declared readiness, the Moldovan side has ignored the proposal. As for other areas of work of the expert group responsible for law enforcement, according to the Minister of Internal Affairs Ruslan Mova, recent working meetings confirm the Moldovan side’s unwillingness to engage in a constructive dialogue. A similar conclusion was voiced by Alexey Lipovtsev (he is responsible for the customs sector of the negotiation agenda). According to him, all the working arrangements are carried out unilaterally by Pridnestrovians: the Moldovan negotiators do not go beyond promises. Communications and telecommunications, agriculture, the humanitarian sector, justice - representatives of Transnistria in the expert groups working in these areas gave roughly the same assessment of the work of the working bodies of the “5 + 2” format. The head of the foreign ministry, in turn, noted that Moldova has adjusted its tactics: if in 2019 there was sabotage and blocking of the negotiation process, then in the current year it is an imitation of readiness for dialogue.
Vadim Krasnoselsky aimed the participants of the meeting to continue the work aimed at upholding the interests of Pridnestrovians. The basis of this activity is a dialogue with Moldovan colleagues. It is necessary to implement the agreements reached earlier and seek solutions to newly emerging problems, the PMR President emphasized. He encouraged working on every aspect and documenting decisions. Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized that each issue on the negotiation agenda is inherently humanitarian: we are talking about difficulties that are artificially created for the residents of Pridnestrovie. Vadim Krasnoselsky noted the role of guarantors, mediators and observers of the “Permanent Meeting ...” format.
The President urged the representatives of PMR expert (working) groups not to reduce activity and to work out precisely every item on the negotiation agenda.
