Tiraspol, 12 October. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. President Krasnoselsky gave an interview to SNG.Today, the president's press service reports.
"History will answer this question"
SNG. Today: "What’s the attitude of Moldova and its president towards Pridnestrovie?"
"The practical approached of the Moldovan president towards our country are puzzling. Thus, personally, I fully supported Igor Dodon's desire for dialogue. We have held two meetings, agreed to solve people's specific problems and to avoid politicising these issues. We have made the first steps to accommodate the Moldovan side: discontinued ten criminal cases against Moldovan officials and policemen, simplified border crossing procedures for Moldovan citizens, settled the issue of land cultivation by Moldovan farmers in the Dubossary District, solved the problem of Romanian-language schools functioning in the PMR. Besides, we have equalised utility tariffs for Moldovan residents in Pridnestrovie, which used to be much higher, with those for Pridnestrovian citizens.
"Unfortunately, we haven't seen so far any reciprocal steps which would indicate the willingness of my Moldovan colleague to act. Instead, Mr Dodon supported the government's plans to strengthen the blockade of Pridnestrovie by establishing Moldo-Ukrainian customs and border posts at the Ukrainian-Pridnestrovian border. Moreover, Igor Dodon publicly confirmed that the parliament, government and the president shared the same position on Pridnestrovie. As you know, Moldova has reinforced its coercive measures on the country, which has nothing to do with the desire to establish a compromise dialogue based on mutual trust.
“Can such a contradictory position testify to the sincerity of the declared goals? Let's assume history will answer this question, and I'm sure it'll follow soon."
SNG. Today: "Are you ready to engage in a substantive dialogue with Igor Dodon?"
"I want to emphasise we are ready for a meaningful dialogue with any authorised Moldovan official, but our desire remains unanswered, as a rule. I have already mentioned the whole series of steps Pridnestrovie has made towards open and compromise interaction with Moldova. This was a kind of goodwill gesture on our part – not a 'statement of intent', which is so typical of our Moldovan colleagues, but quite tangible and practical steps. Now quite a lot of 'balls' are on the side of my Moldovan counterpart. We expect real deeds as the movement must be reciprocal; otherwise, there is no point in talking about any meaningful dialogue."
"Any pressure on Pridnestrovie will further unite the multi-ethnic people of the PMR"
SNG. Today: "Who do you think prevents the two banks of the Dniester from interacting and seeking common ground?"
"As president, I can say responsibly that nothing prevents Pridnestrovie from building mutually respectful and productive dialogue with Moldova. Here's a simple example: over the past five years we have proposed dozens of detailed initiatives in the framework of negotiations with Moldova. They were all aimed at resolving the current socio-economic problems of the residents of both countries. However, only a few of them were supported by Moldova. Moreover, the Moldovan side does not perform the vast majority of nearly two hundred agreements."
SNG. Today: "What are the reasons?"
"What's behind Moldova's position? In our view, there is no fundamental willingness in Kishinev to engage in dialogue with Pridnestrovie as with an equal party to the negotiations. Instead, the Moldovan authorities prefer to interact with us as usual, using coercive methods, blockades, sanctions and threats, being presumably confident that Pridnestrovie will be subjected to political concessions. It is this rigid approach, unveiled distaste for Pridnestrovie, painful ambitions and illusions about our territory and our economy that compel the Moldovan party to engage in dialogue with the PMR from the position of strength.
“It is strange Kishinev does not understand the simple truth: any action always gives rise to counteraction, and therefore any pressure on Pridnestrovie will further unite the multi-ethnic people of the PMR, proves the course for independence that we have chosen is correct."
