Tiraspol, February 16 /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky holds a meeting in Tiraspol with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. The delegation, which is headed by him, includes Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Vitaly Tryapitsyn, the Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Moldova Oleg Vasnetsov as well as representative of the CIS countries’ Russian Foreign Ministry Second Department Pavel Kurochkin. The Pridnestrovian side, additionally to the President, is represented by the PMR Foreign Affairs Minister Vitaly Ignatiev.
During the meeting protocol part, interlocutors exchanged their greetings and outlined the agenda for the upcoming discussion. This importance was emphasized by Vadim Krasnoselsky.
“It’s the beginning of the year, a difficult situation not only around Pridnestrovie and Moldova but also in the whole world. I would like to discuss the basic points that relate to regional security, peacekeeping, the negotiation process as well as relations between Pridnestrovie and Russia. Separately, I would like to dwell on a topical issue of the Consular Service Point working,” the head of state reported.
Over 220,000 Russian citizens are living in Pridnestrovie. Currently, about 14 thousand people are waiting for their turn to resolve the processing documents.
Andrey Rudenko emphasized that it was important for him to have such an opportunity to get acquainted with the situation on the spot. It was noted that it was his first visit to Pridnestrovie, although he was well acquainted with every problem in the republic.
The diplomat described that before meeting with Vadim Krasnoselsky, he visited the Tiraspol Outreach Consular Service Point.
“We held meetings regularly in Moscow and maintained an ongoing dialogue on every issue. It’s important to see everything with your own eyes, to learn about all existing problems, to talk about main cooperation areas between Russia and Pridnestrovie in those areas that allow us to more successfully solve tasks that we face, to discuss other things of the development of the cultural and humanitarian ties” he noted.
Moreover, the negotiation process between Moldova and Pridnestrovie was raised by the Russian diplomat during his speech.
According to him, the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov requested continuing the views exchange on ways to resolve the Pridnestrovian problem. It’s known that, unfortunately, stagnation was observed the previous year, and it’s important to find an opportunity to overcome this process stalling and reach the resumption of the 5 + 2 format systematic work as a whole and through individual working groups by common efforts.
Speaking of Russian Consulate working, Andrey Rudenko stressed that a decision had been made to expand its technical staff.
“I’ve already managed to visit the Outreach Consular Service Point. I was introduced to existing problems. There’re technical issues that have become more difficult during the pandemic. All of them will be solved by us. The ministry’s position is known, Sergey Lavrov, responding to requests from the State Duma deputies, discussed this in detail. A decision has been made to assist in the technical staff expanding,” the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized.
Interlocutors expressed confidence that the meeting would serve to solve existing problems and strengthen traditional Pridnestrovian-Russian ties.
