The Head of the state holds an annual press conference today
The Pridnestrovie’s President Evgeny Shevchuk answered the first question concerning the possible threats to Pridnestrovie from Ukraine and noted that Ukraine was the guarantor state providing the negotiations and the peaceful reconciliation. “Everything that happens in the neighboring state is very important for us, because we have family ties, economic ties there. In my view, the Pridnestrovians have showed and are still showing their goodwill to Ukraine,” the Head of the state emphasized. “The fact that the certain political figures of the highest office in Ukraine have a peculiar view of the relationship between our countries is certainly a pretty serious problem for us, because apart from everything else we suffer the information pressure of the Ukrainian mass media misinforming of possible military risks.”
Besides, the certain sanctions against Pridnestrovie, first of all against the citizens of the Russian Federation residing in our republic were imposed. “In my opinion, it shows a certain aggression upon Pridnestrovie,” Evgeny Shevchuk noted. Indeed, Ukraine started to impose constraints upon the Pridnestrovie’s economy. So, import restrictions for the PMR (e.g., the excisable goods import restrictions) have taken effect since August of this year. There is also a railway export restriction problem at the Slobodka station.
“We know that sometimes the consultations between Ukraine and Moldova aimed at the extension of the Moldava’s legislation to the Pridnestrovie’s territory with the help of Ukraine are held beyond the negotiation process,” Evgeny Shevchuk added emphasizing that these moves were non-constructive.
“Accordingly, we are always open to a healthy debate and offer a good neighbourship; we have never showed any aggression neither against Moldova, nor against Ukraine. At the same time we note that the Ukrainian law enforcement officials declare of a certain threat that is nothing else but a lie,” the President emphasized and hopefully added, “A calm situation in Ukraine and on the Pridnestrovian-Ukrainian border will prove that there were no any military risks and threats to Ukraine from the PMR.”
As for economic problems, Pridnestrovie has already been affected by the sanctions imposed in August. “There are losses in the customs duties and in the excise taxes. We think that several Ukrainian officials trying not to notice the Pridnestrovie’s existence contradict the negotiations regulations setting the conduct rules for Kishinev and Tiraspol and for the guarantor states,” the Head of the state noted.
“I think that we should avoid the different cliches and groundless blaming for the meaningful conversation. Then we can search for the winning solutions for keeping this European region stable,” Evgeny Shevchuk summarized.
