Nikita Kondratov, the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
One of the acute problems in the negotiation agenda with Moldova is the Moldovan-Ukrainian posts on our border. The so-called second phase begins on February 1, that is, Moldova practically takes control of our imports. This is a blow to medicines, a blow to both the economy and the social sphere. Is there a plan how Pridnestrovie will respond to this challenge?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Relations between Moldova and Pridnestrovie have always been very difficult. What happened in Moldova over the past year? In 2017 and 2018 we observed a certain stability in the negotiations: protocol instructions were signed, specific agreements were reached that were fully implemented by the Pridnestrovian side and not fully by the Moldovan side. 2019 was the year of political, electoral upheavals in Moldova. The parliament was re-elected, three governments were replaced, negotiators changed. There was a certain inclination towards the non-fulfillment of the obligations undertaken, the desire to suspend the negotiation process and, in the future, perhaps destroy the 5 + 2 format. I consider the intent of the Moldovan side in this.
All meetings of the 5 + 2 format that took place this year, including the Bratislava meeting and the Bavarian conference did not lead to any result. I regard the actions of the Moldovan side as intentional, aimed at lack of validity on those items that were indicated on the agenda of the Bratislava Protocol. One of the brightest examples. a protocol is discussed. After that, extended meetings are held with the participation of the President of Moldova - no additional questions were raised from the Moldavian side either then or in Bratislava. Suddenly in Bavaria, Moldova includes the so-called tax issue in the protocol, that is, it offers harmonization of the tax systems of Pridnestrovie and Moldova. This is a political provocation. We have our own tax system. For 30 years we have been working according to our own rules and our own laws. Moldova has its own tax system. Good or bad is their tax system, they are different. We have an income tax - there is income tax, VAT and so on ... It is impossible to harmonize these systems without changing them. How can a politician include an issue on the agenda without first discussing it with specialists in working (expert) groups? In addition, the government is responsible for economic issues on the agenda. I will never turn them on without consulting the Government, the Supreme Council, and the public. This is an absolute provocation and populism. They understand that we will never agree to such conditions. Therefore, we consider the actions of the Moldovan side as intentionally unconstructive. I'm not talking about the fact that Moldova has not fulfilled its earlier obligations to terminate criminal cases against Pridnestrovian citizens, to move vehicles freely through the territory of Moldova, to the conflict created by Moldova in the Dubossary region, and others.
Recently, Mrs. Vlakh spoke out and tried to give advice to Pridnestrovie. I would not advise her to do this - let her be engaged in Gagauz autonomy. She talks about a "success story." There is no success story. There is a story of expectation and hope, and I would not want it to turn into a story of disappointment. All goes to this. Today, I hear only one promise to eliminate problems with the accounts of Pridnestrovian enterprises, to solve problems at the posts that are indicated in the question, to import medicines and so on. Gagauzia is our brotherly people. I want to remind you that it was thanks to Pridnestrovie that Gagauz autonomy appeared. If we look at how many Gagauz people left to live in Pridnestrovie, we can talk about a different story, but not success, in terms of autonomous existence. Have the central authorities of Chisinau fulfilled their obligations to the Gagauzians? What is the success story there?
I would like all the promises made by the Moldovan side in the person of responsible officials, including the President, to be fulfilled, so that the 5 + 2 format ends with the signing of the final protocol, so that the previous agreements are fulfilled, so that our story of expectations ends a success story, not a disappointment.
Alexander Lagutin, the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, in August you met with the Minister of Defense of Russia Sergey Shoigu. An initiative was announced regarding the beginning of the disposal of ammunition in the village of Kolbasna. Mr. Dodon said that as soon as the process of disposal begins, there will be no need for peacekeeping operation on the banks of the Dniester. In addition, he said that he received a letter from Sergei Shoigu, which completely describes the mechanism of how this will all happen. Can you comment on this?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Some politicians are striving to politicize this issue and use political dividends to their advantage. In fact, this process is an internal affair of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and the Russian Federation. That’s all. Everyone else can watch. Any participation is allowed only with our permission. Only we have the right to allow or prohibit. This is our internal affair. Such statements will not affect the process.
Of course, Sergey Kuzhugetovich voiced this proposal. We are talking about large ammunition that was removed from Eastern Europe after the destruction of the Warsaw Pact and remained on the territory of Pridnestrovie. Their disposal is a complex technological process and, of course, Russia is responsible for it, it protects this facility. Nevertheless, I voiced our suggestions and categorical conditions to Sergey Kuzhugetovich. We are talking about technological and environmental safety. When the Russian Federation conducts an analysis, receives expert opinions, then there will be statements not from politicians, but from those who have the right to make them. After that, Russian experts should come to us so that our experts can draw conclusions on how and where to dispose of them based on the results of their work. I do not know, I am not a specialist. You too will not find specialists in this room. It should be based solely on the decision of specialists in this sphere.
Just two or three months ago, in the Ukrainian city of Balakliya, an ammunition depot exploded due to improper disposal at the site. People died. I remind you, Kolbasna is a Pridnestrovian settlement. Five kilometers away is a Ukrainian settlement, around other villages, cities. Of course, we will not be based on any political statements. This is our responsibility, land, people. This is our state. This is an internal affair of Pridnestrovie and Russia. Coordinating Center - Russia, Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. If someone wants to participate in the process, please contact the Russian Ministry of Defense. I emphasize once again: there are statements, but there are real actions - they are not interconnected and are unlikely. We will work - there will be a result.
Yuri Zayats, TSV:
There are a lot of construction projects now in the republic. Roads are built, many lengthy construction projects have been completed, and tiles are laid at every step. Why is the state sending large sums of money to the construction industry?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
It will be more correct to say - in the recovery industry. It is tightly connected with the construction. On Wednesday, the Supreme Council adopted the budget law for next year in the third and final reading. The budget is absolutely socially oriented. Of course, there is a block for the development of the Capital Investment Fund. But it is also socially oriented.
I will tell you what the essence of the Capital Investment Fund is, I will name some results of the program for two years and parameters for 2020.
I'll start with the construction sites: we have 158 schools, 156 kindergartens in Pridnestrovie. There are specialized institutions, hospitals, clinics, infrastructure - rural and urban. In 2017, as a result of the audit of all the facilities that I designated, we came to the conclusion that, unfortunately, the balance that we got from the Soviet government expired. Time destroys it. Many objects have become inconvenient to use. We could spend this money on something else. But we cannot send our children to a kindergarten, where the roof is poor, where public convenience are not in the building, and there is unsanitary conditions and there are no elementary conditions for cooking, where in the courtyards there is humped asphalt, which is already 50 years old. The same applies to all other facilities - clinics, hospitals, medical and obstetric centers... Therefore, the Government of Pridnestrovie adopted the absolutely correct, in my opinion, decision to restore the social infrastructure of our state with funds from a capital investment fund. As a result of the coordinated work of the Government, Heads of administrations and all who were involved in this process, we achieved good results. In two years, 38 hospitals, clinics, medical and obstetric centers, 34 kindergartens, 65 schools, 10 houses of culture, 51 social correctional institutions were repaired or built. It's a lot. Our plans are to reach 100% indicator so that kindergartens, hospitals and clinics, and other infrastructure facilities of our republic are completely repaired.
I want to thank the PMR Government and the Supreme Council for the constructive dialogue and for the development of common positions in the implementation of the capital investment fund program. In 2020, we plan to repair 22 medical facilities in the amount of 30 million rubles, 25 schools, 22 kindergartens, 6 houses of culture and 14 social correctional institutions.
In addition to social infrastructure, which requires capital investments, we have another problem - this is the network. Our utility networks have been developing their resources since the time of the Soviet Union. In 2017, I saw a pre-catastrophic situation in the operation of networks. Every Monday I hold a meeting with the Heads of city and district administrations. At the meeting, the Head of the Tiraspol administration, Bendery or Rybnitsa reports: “Dear Vadim Nikolaevich, I report that there have been 220 pipe breaks in Bendery this week”, or “... 250 in Tiraspol”, “..150 in Rybnitsa”. The Head cheerfully reports, says that everything is eliminated. Please, understand what these numbers mean? 200 pipe breaks per week on average in each city or region of the republic. It's a lot. We were approaching communal collapse. Without investing in networks, we would go to a communal disaster, when the repaired kindergarten building would be left without light, heat, or other communal resources.
We are socially responsible. We fix all prices for utilities, as I promised, as a presidential candidate and already as President. The Government and the Supreme Council came into. Nothing happens for free or just like that. If the service costs, conditionally, the ruble, and the person pays 70 cents, where to get these 30 cents, how to cover? We had a practice when these 30 kopecks were covered by natural monopolies - these are water utilities, distribution systems, etc. This put a strain on their profits, funds were washed inside out. Organizations were not able to repair something, to put the networks in order. In 2018, it was decided that the state would take on the compensation of financial losses of energy supplying organizations. Last year 80 million rubles for this purpose, this year - already 140 million rubles. This money goes not only to salary. They are going to overhaul all communication networks. This is correct and fair. There are already results. 2019 is coming to an end, and Heads are reporting other numbers. Now the number "100" is rarely heard. Already recorded 80, 70, 50 gusts per week. There is a real indicator of the benefits of this case.
As for the road industry. Tile is a small improvement segment. It's just that it is bright, in plain sight, all in patterns, so it catches the eye. Nobody sees the pipes in the earth that is changed.
Back in 2017, seeing problems in operation and repair of roads, I recommended switching our entire road industry to new technologies. Asphalting, of course, is necessary for the republic, and we will continue. Asphalting is import, it is the currency that is spent and is spend nowhere, this is the rise in price of bitumen (it is already three times more expensive than it was ten years ago). Concrete is a new technology, it is import substitution, the capitalization of the economy of our republic, the strengthening of Pridnestrovian ruble, the creation of new industries, new jobs. This is a reasonable transparent pricing. This is convenience, cheapening. Here is an example: the central square of the capital. There were many disputes - the area in Tiraspol was discussed more than the possibility of gas transit through our republic. The people were worried. Although, what a concern? If you look at the old pictures of the square, you will see that all the asphalt was crumpled, it had to be changed. Laying tiles is one and a half times cheaper than laying asphalt. There is economic feasibility in this. It is convenient and beautiful, although beauty is here in last place. It’s cost-effective, it’s common sense. We are observing the transformation of the republic, development of this production. I attend kindergartens and schools. I remember how a year ago, children at school complained, showing their beaten knees. Now I arrived, and there the tile is beautiful, comfortable, and the children are happy.
As for road concreting, we will develop this industry and concreted secondary roads of our republic, which will make the process much cheaper. If the tile is much cheaper than asphalt, then concreting roads is about the same cost. This, again, is capitalization. We use our materials, follow the path of import substitution, do not spend currency. Moreover, with the use of new technologies, new paving slab production facilities have appeared. There are municipal enterprises in Tiraspol, Bendery, Dubossary, Slobodzeya where produce this coating. These are new jobs. There is a private manufacturing sector - this is also good. This is development of the republic. We will move forward. The prospect is this: when Strategy 2019-2026 is fully implemented, everything that we started to do, we will fulfill, put in order all kindergartens, hospitals, schools, cultural facilities, all internal infrastructure - both urban and rural. This task is doable. It is only necessary to work, not to argue. And we will succeed.
Zinaida Kitskan, the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Next year, our republic will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary. As time has shown, in a country like Pridnestrovie, in such a different national composition, you can communicate and learn in the language in which a person wants. In Moldova, a slightly different picture: Russian schools are closing down, the history of Romanians in the official Romanian language is taught in schools. We have said more than once that we are ready to help Russian-speaking citizens of Moldova learn in their own language. What about those who wish to study in Moldavian in Cyrillic?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
This is a matter of developing relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. I want to remind you that the language problem was one of the reasons for the emergence of Pridnestrovie as a state. They somehow forget it: it’s convenient to forget the uncomfortable, ugly. In the late 80s and early 90s, Moldova adopted a well-known law on the mother language. True, in fact, not about the native, but about the Romanian. They tried to impose the Romanian language here in Pridnestrovie, where people of different nationalities live compactly: Moldovans, Russians, Ukrainians and so on. The Russian language under the Soviet Union was the language of interethnic communication. What wildness - the Soviet Union has not yet collapsed - make everyone speak Romanian, switch to Latin. Of course, our people categorically did not accept this, did not allow. Then there were other questions. Language was the basis of the initial confrontation. If then the central Government of Chisinau would meet, who knows how it would be. Then there was categoricality. In addition, there was a decision of June 23, 1990, when the Supreme Council of Moldova adopted two declarations: in the first declaration they declared the sovereignty of Moldova, and in the second declaration they declared the Moldavian SSR to be created illegally, recognizing the invalidity of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This is a legal decision to abandon general statehood. We did not destroy the Moldavian SSR, this was done by Moldova and its central authority - Chisinau. They are separatists, not we. We didn’t go out, as they came to us in Bessarabia in the fortieth year, they left us. Think about it: how could parliament make such decisions? I know the answer to this question. They wanted to restore Bessarabian justice territorially. They began to indirectly claim the Ukrainian lands. This is Bukovina, the southern part of Odessa region. It was after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact that the territory of the MASSR fell under Moldovan jurisdiction, and Bukovina and the southern part of Odessa region were given to Ukraine. Moldovan politicians, acting, I guess, at the direction of the outside, have made a decision that will historically give them the right, as they thought, to Ukrainian lands. This is the relationship between Moldova and Ukraine. But they thereby abandoned Pridnestrovie. Did they think about it or not? That's the question. Then there was the aggression of 1992. The War. So far, no one has been held accountable. I'm not talking about an apology - we don't need. Apology is an empty phrase. A specific legal assessment, punishment of the guilty, recognition by terrorists of those who committed contract killings here, and so on is needed. There is no such. Will it? I do not know.
Now the history of negotiations and, again, the language. In the Pridnestrovian Strategy, we clearly outlined our state idea. Please pay attention: state, not national. One of the points of the state idea speaks of the further strengthening of the commonality of the Pridnestrovian people, which includes many nationalities and nationalities with their own culture and language. This is our state idea. Creating a community of Pridnestrovian people. This is created. To all doubters, I want to ask a question: what is the name of the people living in Pridnestrovie, where there is a certain percentage of Moldovans, Russians, Ukrainians, Jews, Gagauz, Germans, Poles, Bulgarians - representatives of 72 nationalities and nationalities? Moldavian people? Not. Russian? Also no. Ukrainian? Also does not fit. Pridnestrovian - the answer. The Pridnestrovian people have been created: this is historical truth. Pridnestrovie respects people of all nationalities, does not divide them by skin color, religion, language. Language forms the self-identity of the nation, nationalities, which are located within the community Pridnestrovian people. We cultivate it. We have Russian, Moldavian, Ukrainian schools, three official languages, school, preschool, additional, higher education receive in their native languages.
The Moldavian side has always exploited the theme of language: they say, in Pridnestrovie language is impingeв. Let's expand on this topic. There are 35 kindergartens, where children communicate only in Moldavian or Moldavian and Russian languages, 32 such schools, many folk art collectives, institutions of additional education and so on, which use the Moldavian language as a language communication in Pridnestrovie. We cultivate the real Moldavian language in Pridnestrovie. If not for Pridnestrovie, there would be no Moldavian language. Think it over. Moldova is the only state of its kind: it is called “Moldova”, but it does not have a history of Moldova, there is only the history of Romanians. Not even the history of Romania, namely the history of the Romanians and the Romanian, but not the Moldavian language. Thanks to Pridnestrovie, Moldavians maintain their self-identity, because language forms traditions and culture. Language - and nothing more. They stole the native Moldavian language from their people.
We Pridnestrovians are absolutely peaceful people and we never try to respond with aggression with aggression. We always go in the peaceful wake of our initiatives. We allow schools in Pridnestrovie to study based on Latin scripts. In the neighboring state there is a Romanian language and in Romania, too, the Romanian language. Why cannot there be schools with the Romanian language of instruction in Pridnestrovie? Let them be. We created all conditions for the development of these schools, practically reduced the rent for these educational institutions to zero, allocated territories, and ensured the free movement of teachers and children who study in Moldovan schools in Romanian. There are no problems. Therefore, I do not recommend exploiting this problem for politicians - we can blame the Moldovan side for violating the Moldavian language, infringing Moldovans and persecuting them on ethnic grounds.
Not to mention that Russian schools in Moldova are closing. We are forced to carry children who study in Russian with buses to Pridnestrovie. I am not saying that in Moldova in 2018 the Russian language was excluded as the language of interethnic communication. Now there is already a parliamentary majority, but where are the initiatives to return it? They are not and never will be. The Russian language in Moldova will not be returned, as the language of interethnic communication is a fact. As Russian schools will not be opened, Russian news channels will not be returned. This is what really happens.
I do not criticize - I just say that this is an internal affair of a neighboring state. We have our own state, our own rules, our respect for the people and their nationalities. They have their own rules, there are no questions. There can be no example of a success story for us, because they are mononational, and we are international. We respect everyone - they strive to single out one. This is dangerous.
Irina Davydenko, Inter FM Radio:
Question on the transit of Russian gas. There was such a situation in which Pridnestrovie is an observer. Tell me, please, what options do we have in case Kiev and Moscow do not agree?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Just yesterday, a lengthy meeting in Berlin between representatives of Naftogaz and Gazprom ended. It lasted nine hours. The first persons of these companies, profile ministers were present. As follows from the statements of one and the second side, they agreed on the transit of Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine. There are technical details left. The final protocol has not yet been signed. This is a matter of time. The next meeting will be held in Minsk, as far as I know the situation. I think technical experts will agree there and sign a transit agreement. At what time and in what volumes - while outside the brackets. I think we’ll know everything this month.
Gas transit will be saved. I was convinced of this, but, nevertheless, we did not live in illusions, only hopes. We were preparing for both gas reversal and the implementation of the plan to convert boiler houses to liquid fuel. We held a set of events, a lot of meetings, the Security Council met, developed plans. God forbid, not to use them. But they must be - anything can happen. As for the latest events: they inspire optimism.
Violetta Ganina, the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, we talked about the relations between Pridnestrovie and Moldova, let's now talk about the relations between the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and Russia. There is good news that our citizens received passports of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic at the Official Representation of our state in Moscow. How will this mechanism work further? Is this one-time help to our citizens, or will it work on an ongoing basis? Just want to ask the following question, it is no less important. In Pridnestrovie, the consular post of the embassy of the Russian Federation stopped accepting applications for Russian citizenship. Why? Did our country turn to Russia? Are there any answers?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
I will start with the second question, which concerns Pridnestrovian citizens who wish to acquire citizenship of the Russian Federation. The consular post resumes work on December 20. This is an official response received from the Embassy of the Russian Federation. Why has the application for citizenship been temporarily suspended? The reason is that the limit for 2019 was allegedly exhausted. They have accepted as many applications as they can process. If a person has grounds for obtaining citizenship of the Russian Federation, they should not be infringed on this right. This is contrary to the Constitution of the Russian Federation. If there is a need and not enough personnel, it is necessary to expand the staff. This is my opinion, I will continue to broadcast it.
Many people ask how many Pridnestrovian citizens want a Russian passport. Who can answer this question? The answer is on the surface - 97%. That is how many Pridnestrovians supported the independence of Pridnestrovie with further integration with the Russian Federation. 97% of our citizens consider themselves compatriots with Russians and wish to receive a Russian passport, regardless of which passport they already have - Moldovan, Ukrainian or some other. Why did this happen? Because our united state, the Soviet Union was the victim of deception and betrayal of the country's political elite. This is true, historical truth. Unfortunately this is the case. No one asked the people, or rather, the people were asked, a referendum was held, and the people spoke in favor of preserving the Soviet Union. The people were deceived. Imagine: a group of politicians have deceived the whole people of the Soviet Union. It also turned out that a state called the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic arose. The inhabitants of Pridnestrovie were cut off from their historical homeland as a result of betrayal. I directly say and call a spade. People had to somehow survive. How? Not everyone could get a Russian passport. There were very complex mechanisms in the early nineties. It was not so simple. Life went on. It was necessary to solve the issues of treatment, maintaining family ties, rest. Citizens were forced to get a Moldovan passport, who could - Ukrainian or other passport. Then, of course, people returned to the issue of obtaining a Russian passport, because this is their right to justice in relation to the citizens of Pridnestrovie. They received a refusal, with argumentation: if received a Moldovan (or Ukrainian) document then have no right to Russian. Who decided that? We are compatriots. Those who made the decision on the collapse of the Soviet Union, restore the right of Pridnestrovians, compatriots to the document that they want to receive. Not for the sake of pensions, not for the sake of some material wealth - for the sake of truth. People who are over eighty years old addressed me at the reception, they tell me directly: of course, we will leave soon, this is life, but we want to leave with a Russian passport, understand? These are Russian people, they speak Russian, their children live in Russia. That is the truth.
When I visit the State Duma of the Russian Federation, the Council of the Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation, I say everything that is right for you now. Everyone understands us, everyone is ready to meet us. Only there is no practical result, but I would really like to see it and say thank you to the Russian official who will resolve this issue completely and irrevocably. That our citizens, who consider themselves compatriots, but have a passport of another state, can receive a Russian document without refusing it. Moreover, such precedents already exist in the territory of the post-Soviet space.
As for the representation: of course, we have the Constitution of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, we have normative documents on the passport and citizenship, and everyone should work in this way. Naturally, the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of the Interior cannot be excluded from this process. The representative office simply collects materials, sends them to Pridnestrovie. Clearance takes place. Then we redirect documents, and a person can get a passport while in Moscow. That's all. The mechanism is very simple. This is a communication component. The mechanism will continue to work.
Alexander Karasev, the Pridnestrovie newspaper:
Vadim Nikolayevich, what to do to ensure that people do not leave our republic, especially for young people. Much is being done - beautification, construction, repair, it is all aimed at ensuring that our people stay here. Nevertheless, I would like to know what else will be undertaken in the near future so that this issue is resolved positively, so that our Pridnestrovians have work in their homeland.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
The question is short, I would be glad to answer as shortly, but I can’t. I believe that Pridnestrovie has created ideal conditions for raising children. Why is that? We have a wide network of kindergartens, schools, institutions of additional education, cultural and sports education, many different opportunities are provided. In principle, child’s parents can develop, give a good secondary education, increase its sports or cultural level. It's true. Sometimes they ask what the state does for young people. That is all there is. I attend kindergartens, I always ask a question about how many children eat and how many of them are beneficiaries. Usually 40-50%. That is, half of the children eat at public expense, not parents. There are also many beneficiaries in schools.
Everyone talks about the uniqueness of Pridnestrovie. We have many talents in sports, culture, and art. Yesterday, I congratulated and presented certificates to the best sportsmen and coaches. This year, more than thirty world and European champions. Representatives of small Pridnestrovie with a population of not more than five hundred thousand citizens receive licenses to participate in the Olympic Games, which will be held in the summer. This is also an indicator that young people feel comfortable here. They say that here we are fighting bad habits, cultivating a healthy lifestyle, and promoting mass sport.
For example, a young man is finishing school, so far he is happy with everything. By the way, many young people come to us from Gagauzia who graduate here from the 11th grade in order to receive Pridnestrovian documents on secondary education, continue to study in Pridnestrovie or go somewhere further. Now he is eighteen years old. What's next? Further, the young man has every right and, most importantly, the opportunity to receive a good higher education in Pridnestrovie. The Ministry of Internal Affairs - please, Tiraspol Law Institute, on the line of defense - please, Military Institute (there are also other components of the educational system - the Cadet Corps and the Suvorov College). Higher civil education - please, Pridnestrovian State University, in which they give good education in many specialties. I myself graduated from the faculty of law in 2000, I remember the level of education received. Its enough. Many officials of our state are graduates of this university.
The day of graduation comes. The young man is 22-23 years old. All these years, the state has been preparing it - by raising it in kindergarten, studying at school, in sports sections and at the university on a budgetary basis. This moment is a new starting point. What's next? Work. Of course you have to work. In this part, the state also supports, guaranteeing all graduates who study at the expense of the budget, jobs. This is a very complex mechanism. It is necessary to create a verified system of public procurement and training on a budgetary place, based on the needs of the state. We do this and conclude agreements to support the young man.
Everything that I listed, as well as the operation of the capital investment fund, the arrangement of Pridnestrovie, the creation of park areas and recreation areas, is aimed at making the person comfortable.
In any state, there are migration processes. This is normal. They are in Ukraine, in Russia, in Moldova, in European states, in the Baltic countries. In Ukraine, for example, different numbers: two, three, four, ten million people left. I don’t know, it’s hard for me to talk about others. I am talking only about Pridnestrovie. We have both emigration and immigration. According to statistics, where do they traditionally go? Most often to the Russian Federation, to a lesser extent to the European Union. Why it’s clear to the Russian Federation: there are family ties, studies, work, and so on. Where do they come from? They come from Russia. They come from Moldova and Ukraine. They don’t come to these states from us, but from there they come to us, because it is more comfortable, better, more convenient here.
There are other indicators that indirectly, but also talk about certain migration issues and problems. We are talking, for example, about schools. This year, on September 1, one thousand two hundred students went to schools more than in 2018, in 2018 - one thousand three hundred more than in 2017. This is not about first grades, but about schools in general. These are young people who come to us. It is comfortable here, you can get an education, and then a lot depends on us - the President, the Government, the Supreme Council, on the adoption of various programs to support young people, on the creation of various business schools and the implementation of business projects, on enhancing entrepreneurial initiative among our young people. This is all complex, a lot of coordinated work. The most important thing is that we understand its significance, verify, approve the Pridnestrovian Development Strategy and will certainly implement it, do not even doubt it. I am convinced that there will still be a migration boom in Pridnestrovie - not upon departure, but upon the arrival of people to us. We are working for this.
Anna Turchenko, Informanional Agency News of Pridnestrovie:
Continuing the theme of youth: Vadim Nikolaevich, in September you made a decision to create the Youth Policy Directorate at the Ministry of Education, and youth policy specialists were returned to the state administrations, you gave this order to the Government. At the moment, what are the results of the execution of this order, will the state's approach to youth policy be changed?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
What does “changed” mean? The approach will be expanded. The named structural units will be responsible for this. In September of this year, instructions were given to create an appropriate unit at the Ministry of Education. As the Government has already reported, the work has been completed. There are changes in the staffing table, the department will start functioning from January 1, 2020. The staff will include five people. They will be responsible for the youth sector through the Ministry of Conservation. This is the first. The second point - with all state administrations, we are returning specialists in youth policy. Three administrations, I will not name them, have not done this yet, but from January 1, specialists should begin work. This also applies to the Ministry of Education and state administrations. Dear heads of administrations, as you are all here, take control so that from January 1 these units work in full.
Viktor Chebanov, Information Department of the PMR Ministry of Defense:
In recent years much has been done in the sphere of social protection of servicemen. A multi-storey building was commissioned, a new barracks is now being built in one of the units, and the soldiers’ ration has been improved. Soldiers received a new uniform, including winter. What is planned to be done for the social protection of military personnel under contract, possibly with the involvement of state programs?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Any state needs protection. If you want peace, get ready for war. This was said by great people. Perhaps this is the truth of life. We are not aggressors, we have a defensive doctrine. We always say that we are able to actively defend our statehood. What is active protection? It consists of well-equipped power structures (Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of State Security, Ministry of Justice and so on), as well as good mobilization readiness. This is a basic element of active protection. And who is the mobilization resource? People. In 2018, we gathered forty thousand Pridnestrovian citizens at recruiting stations, stadiums, and 39947 people, while we invited forty-one thousand to visit the recruiting stations. Forty thousand came - this is a good indicator. We wanted to see if people were ready to defend themselves in difficult situations. But they are different - technogenic, environmental. We all have such experience in Pridnestrovie.
This is all part of active defense, active resistance. As for the Ministry of Defense, the army, and the armed forces, I used to observe processes of a negative nature, which in no way contribute to the defense capability of the republic. Why it happened, I won’t talk about it. I want to start the countdown from 2017. As a result of systematic work to improve the conditions of service in the Pridnestrovian army, we were able to achieve success. Firstly, we completely ruled out such a negative phenomenon as military hazing. There is no more. There is, of course, a feature of men's groups, and everyone who served will understand me. In the sports section, and in any society of men, there are certain relationships when character adaptation occurs in it. This is normal. But there is no military hazing. Eliminating this phenomenon, we removed the main reason for the abandonment of the military unit, that is, desertion. Over the past year, there are practically no such facts. Why is that? We have changed the philosophy. Now everyone who is supposed can go home after the service. To serve as to work: at eight in the morning came, at six in the evening went home. This is great, because a lot of all the negative things happened in the armed forces precisely at night, and everyone knows this very well. They changed the philosophy of officers (unfortunately, officers "helped" bullying in many ways, it was convenient for them). We have created the conditions when students who are drafted into the armed forces can continue their studies in absentia, and this is also correct. In addition, good combat training has been provided, well-coordinated work is underway, exercises in the armed forces are conducted on an ongoing basis. Uniforms, good nutrition are provided. Through the capital investment fund, overhaul of the barracks is carried out, that is, the life of the military is being improved. An important aspect is housing affordability.
Here I will approach the issue more broadly, because this applies not only to the Ministry of Defense, but also to all state employees. I always make survey questionnaire, communicating with groups. This year I visited almost budget organizations. Question number one is always housing, then everything else. Housing fixes a specialist, gives him guarantees that allow him to think about expanding his family. Initially, we went along the path of completing all the constructed buildings in our republic. Unfortunately, there were not so many of them. It would be more, we would finish their construction, and provide all those in need with housing. We rented two nine-story houses in Tiraspol in Benderskaya Street. Before that, terrible stories were told that it was impossible to finish building, that communications could not be brought to them, and so on. Everything is possible. In these houses, employees of the ministries of defense and internal affairs, budget workers have already received apartments. Next week, three sections of the housing estate in Komsomolskaya Street (Tiraspol) will be commissioned, these are 247 apartments. A house was also commissioned in Bendery. Next year we will continue this work in all cities and regions of our republic. As I promised, although many were skeptical about this, we do not change our position on the price. How much is a square meter of living space? Somewhere it turned out 102 dollars, somewhere 150 - depending on the location and communication capabilities. As I said, it happened: a two-room apartment costs up to seven thousand conventional monetary units, a three-room apartment - a little more than eight, a one-room apartment - up to five thousand. The most important thing is that we gave budget workers the opportunity to purchase housing for their wages - due to the low cost and the ability to get a loan in PMR rubles for ten years. The person who purchased the house pays the loan without reference to the dollar - from eight hundred to one and a half thousand rubles a month. It's fine. When I attended the opening of the facilities without saying a word, three state employees approached me - an employee of the internal affairs bodies, a military man, and a teacher in Bendery. They said, thank you for giving the opportunity to purchase housing for their salary. You can not stop. The next initiative is a joint work of the PMR Government and the Supreme Council on the creation of a housing program for public sector employees in the secondary market by investing their own funds and using state subsidies. This is the complex math that the Supreme Council and the Government. A person cares how much he will pay per month during ten years. The amount should not be more than one and a half thousand rubles. This is my position as the President. Less is possible, but not more. If we give people such an opportunity, they will also thank us. This is right, and we will definitely do it. Just recently, a meeting was held at the presidential executive office, which was attended by deputies of the Supreme Council, the leadership of the PMR Government, and we came to a common understanding that this should be done. We set a deadline of thirty business days for a final decision. The law-in-draft is in the Supreme Council. It must be taken to enable people to purchase housing. This is one of the elements of social, including youth, politics. This is the support of young professionals. The budget for next year provides for subsidies of 15 million rubles, which is about 200 apartments, which, if the law is adopted will be acquired for public sector employees.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Let me move from the housing issue to healthcare, medicine. One gets the feeling that after some time there will be no one to treat our Pridnestrovians. Doctors quit, nursing staff quit, and patients themselves are dissatisfied with the quality of services. How do you see the resolution of this situation?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
You painted a picture with dark colors. There are halftones. I know these problems and always honestly called them, and took responsibility. I will note what problems are in Pridnestrovie.
For comparison: healthcare in Moldova and Pridnestrovie. Of course, the level of health care in Moldova is higher. I say this objectively. Above, because large sums of money, third-party, European funds were invested into the healthcare of Moldova. No one has ever invested in healthcare of Pridnestrovie. That is the difference. But even with such seemingly success, 3200 highly qualified doctors left Moldova last year. These are not nurses, but doctors. 3200 people quit and left Moldova to work in other states. It would seem, why so? The salary there is not bad, but always a person is looking for where it is better. The same processes can occur here in Pridnestrovie.
We must create conditions for both doctors and patients. You can not talk about the development of health care without thinking about the patient. You can not think about the development of health care only in the aspect of doctors. Therefore, the Ministry of Health has been tasked with developing an appropriate Health Development Concept. It is now discussed in detail on the ground in the districts. I demanded that this Concept be considered by specialized specialists, so that after a broad discussion specific parameters were developed, the final picture of the development of the medical industry was presented. The concept should be presented to the President only after it has been considered in all cities and regions, in all public organizations. I am not an expert in this sphere - I want to listen to experts so that everyone expresses their opinion.
For me, the development of health care exists in the following basic components. The first is capital investment. The second is the technical equipment of healthcare, ranging from a scalpel to an ambulance. Third - university and postgraduate education. It should be given here in Pridnestrovie. In some cases, training should be carried out outside Pridnestrovie when it is necessary to train point specialists. Fourth - decent material incentives for doctors. All these components are included in the Healthcare Development Concept.
Something has already been done. Judging by the mortality rate, the problems of cardiovascular diseases are in the first place in our republic. In the second - oncological diseases. In the third, gastrointestinal infections. It is necessary to somehow influence these statistics. As for oncological diseases, there is a target program, specialists worked in this direction. We faced a large number of deaths precisely in cases of cardiovascular diseases. Without appropriate equipment and specialists, treatment is impossible and, unfortunately, this problem cannot be solved in a year or two. Moldova has been moving towards solving this problem for four years: they acquired equipment and trained specialists. People are dying, we couldn’t postpone the decision for three or four years and therefore we took a different path - the way of concluding contracts with clinics in Moldova, in Chisinau, with clinics that perform surgical interventions and save people. Over six months of the operation of this system, about 160 lives of Pridnestrovians have been saved. At the same time, the state pays for expensive operations - from 30 to 50 thousand lei is worth every shunting operation. This is success. These are saved lives. These are people, who escaped the tragedy.
We, of course, will follow the path of solving the acquisition of an angiograph and training specialists. But while we are moving in this direction, it is important that people do not die. Many thanks to the authors for this idea and for its implementation. To deliver a person to the hospital in order to save him, there are certain time parameters. Moldovan experts say: we need a person to be delivered to the clinic within an hour, a maximum of one and a half hours, depending on the situation. We were faced with the need to purchase ambulances, good ambulances, which are able to quickly deliver a person to the appropriate clinic. We purchased them. Thanks to this, human lives are saved.
I have already talked about renovated hospitals, clinics in rural areas. There are 38 in all. Next year we plan to continue this repair. The budget of our republic includes funds for the purchase of appropriate medical equipment. I would like to ask the Supreme Council that such control bodies as the Accounts Chamber periodically check the effectiveness of the use of equipment purchased at the expense of the republican budget. If we acquire, it should work. Do not forget about other forms of control. Then we will have a result.
This is a complex system, complex. But the basis of any concept, the basis of any organism is the soul and elementary human relations. As President, I have always demanded and will demand from any official, from myself and from everyone who is in this hall, a normal human attitude towards people. People are different: with certain disorders, with their own character, with their grievances, one must always be prepared for this and never take painfully the behavior of people. Any doctor, and not just a doctor, should treat a sick person with understanding and with a soul, without swagger and rudeness. Like any official, by and large. If we plan to go in this direction, form a coherent system of the healthcare apparatus, and demand the implementation of the Concept, which will be adopted in our country, I think a lot will change. There is already something. But we must expand this aspect.
Irina Levitskaya, TSV:
Vadim Nikolaevich, entrepreneurs heard your ideas on the development of tourism and the image of a republic in which it is safe and interesting. And now there are ideas, suggestions, private companies want to create so-called attraction points for tourists. What is your attitude to private tourist attraction initiatives?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Tourism is one of the necessary directions for the development of Pridnestrovie. Not only in terms of profitability, profitability, but also in terms of information component. In 2017, I talked about the fact that if you open any search engine and type "Pridnestrovie", you will see a monument to Lenin, a T-34 tank, a military parade and photographs of the 1992 fighting. But this is not all Pridnestrovie. Yes, this is our story, and we remember it and are proud of it. But there is another. There are children, there are our cultural, natural, historical monuments. There is a development. Why is this not visible? We have already made a breakthrough in the tourist region - the number of tourists arriving in Pridnestrovie has noticeably increased. We reduce barriers and improve the conditions for passing all customs procedures for this category of citizens. We are interested in the openness of Pridnestrovie. Of course, we are interested in initiatives that come from within. Certain entrepreneurs, and I am grateful to them, come forward with these initiatives. What was suggested? Pridnestrovie is rich not only in its culture and history, but also in its nature, its food products. Many people who come to Pridnestrovie from Moscow or Europe say that we have natural food that they have not seen for a long time. If they see it, then it costs a lot of money and is available only in certain places. And with us it is sold in the market. When our guests enter the green market, they are surprised at the abundance, beauty and convenience, and ask: what is the blockade here, if you have it? Why not develop tourism in this area? I assure you, many go not only to the sea for a swim. Dniester river, swimming pools, good relaxation and food. One of the proposals that came (so far only as an idea) is related to the development of rural tourism in our republic. We have the villages of Bychok and Krasnaya Gorka. Between them is a great place for a rural tourism center. This is a very beautiful place - a view of the Dniester, its steep coast, islands on the river. There was a proposal at this place to build tourist facilities for the agricultural business, for example, houses of Russian, Ukrainian, Moldavian cuisine, a brewery, a smokehouse. I assure you that if all this is done beautifully and interestingly, in some unified Pridnestrovian style, then, of course, this will attract not only tourists from outside, but also any citizen of our state who simply wants to go there to relax. We are ready to support entrepreneurs and, together with them, to go in this direction. We will help with communications.
We welcome any initiative that comes from Pridnestrovians. We have magnificent vineyards, fields, including lavender. We have wonderful dairy farms. Good wine, good drinks. All this deserves attention. Everywhere it is necessary to build infrastructure, make it more attractive, more comfortable. Tourists go for this life, brown bread, home-made wine. They come from all over the world to different corners of the globe. We must create the conditions - then they will come to us, I assure you. This is a tourist breakthrough. We made it. And an information breakthrough, including. A department has been created under the Ministry of Economic Development to deal with tourism development issues. We are developing websites, tourist passports and so on. This is a development, a completely new page in the history of Pridnestrovie.
Suzanna Avakyan, the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
I would like to continue the theme of tourism. Not so long ago, the famous Russian designer Artemy Lebedev came to Pridnestrovie. His studio will be engaged in the development of the Pridnestrovian brand. What is the Pridnestrovian brand for you, and are you interested in what Lebedev will create, given his past work?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Artemy is a creative person, he has many interesting works, logos. I don’t know what Artemy will come up with. I want to see what he offers. The symbol that for me personally symbolizes Pridnestrovie is Generalissimo Suvorov. This is the person who founded Tiraspol, founded the Little Russian Territory on this land. I want to listen to the opinion of a creative person. He will present his thoughts, we will present his recommendations. We will come to a common understanding and work out a single symbol of Pridnestrovie.
Alisa Kokhanova, “The Gomin” newspaper:
Today a the driver of a minibus was talkative, people touched on the topic of health and sports. He says, "I do not want to contact our doctors, I have been involved in sports for twenty years and have been swimming in the Dniester in any weather". In this regard, I remembered that 2020 was declared the Year of Health. How accessible will be physical education classes for citizens of our republic?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Sometimes a person goes to a doctor when it is too late to help. For example, a smoker at the age of fifty comes and complains of lung disease. This is a bad habit, and saving is already very difficult. Initially, you need to think about your health yourself. This driver correctly said: he is engaged in sports and respects his health. I also go in for sports and constantly go to the river - I do not swim, but do rowing, with my wife. Training does not stop in any weather. I don’t want to go to the doctors, I want to go in for sports.
The Year of Health covers not only health care concepts. It is, first and foremost, about a healthy lifestyle. Based on this, we plan to continue the construction of sports fields, stadiums, football fields. We remembered and revived the “Leather Ball” movement, where all school teams play in the respective championships. In January, a city pool will be opened in Bendery. Residents of Bendery have been waiting for this event for a long time. We support sports sections, the state pays a salary to the teaching staff, provides schools. I have already talked about our athletes: their success is also a consequence of our common work. This year, the Olympic Reserve School was opened, where the most talented Pridnestrovian children can go in for sports without interruption. This is a complex. I urge everyone to play sports and lead a healthy lifestyle. This will have a positive effect on the health of the Pridnestrovian people.
Julia Sorokopud, the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
Vadim Nikolaevich, you have already said that we have a lot of talented sportsmen, but, unfortunately, there is such a situation that a lot of young people are selected for the European Championships, the world, but there is no money, and the guys can not go to the competition. How to be in this situation?
One more question - on objects. The republic is becoming more athletic. On the former wastelands, we see new sites, equipment for the workout, but at the same time the republican stadium is standing, sad and waiting for its turn. Work has begun there, but, as we understand it, the construction site is frozen. When is it planned to continue reconstruction of the republican stadium in Tiraspol?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
I'll start with the stadium. This is a significant object for the sport of Tiraspol and the republic as a whole. The stadium is located among other significant sports facilities, these are boxing and wrestling schools, a pool, an ice rink, a minisoccer field is located behind. Time itself requires repair of the stadium. Last year we covered the central podium. There is a desire to repair it, to bring it to mind that not only football players were involved there, but also other sports sections. So that good football competition appears in Tiraspol. It is necessary to create a city team. There are plans for the year 2021. In 2020, we focused on healthcare facilities, preschool and school facilities. In 2021, I hope, we will repair the stadium of the city of Tiraspol.
As for the other part of the question: we help our guys traveling to the World Championships, Europe to the best of our abilities and capabilities. Our sportsmen cannot defend the interests of Pridnestrovie alone due to our non-recognition. Therefore, they represent the Russian Federation, Moldova, Ukraine or for other states. I would really like their participation here. Here we train children, teach them in schools of the Olympic reserve, spend our budgetary funds. When they defend someone’s flag, I understand this is a necessity, but support from the state that they represent is necessary. Of course, we help and will help, but I see little help except for Russian help. Moldova is a little interested, but also to a small extent.
Lyudmila Soltan, “The Adeverul Nistryan” newspaper:
We have developed a Development Strategy, a lot has been done to increase the investment attractiveness of the republic, do we have success in this direction?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
Of course, without investment it is impossible to think about the development of the economy, new industries and job creation. I will touch on the results and talk about some of the results. Of course, without a legislative framework this cannot be done. The Law on Investments, which was adopted by the Supreme Council on the initiative of the PMR Government, is the basis. We guarantee investors game rules that fully satisfy them. This is the first. The second point: we have seen an increase in investment activity, this can be seen as a percentage in both 2018 and 2019. A large investment forum was held, attended by commercial representatives of two dozen states, and agreements were concluded with our economic entities and the Government. As a final point - the creation of jobs and new industries. In less than three years, we have created 13.5 thousand jobs in the real sector of the economy. We do not connect the budget sphere here, we do not take into account. Is it a lot or a little for Pridnestrovie? Everything is relative. The holding of the Sheriff company, for example, - one of the main domestic investors in our republic - during its activity has created 22 new production facilities and 15 thousand jobs. We have already created 13.5 thousand. There is an indicator. This is probably a lot. And we will move in that direction.
There are other nuances. Unfortunately, the workplace is not always occupied by a working person, unfortunately. Investment activity is available. Just before the press conference, a meeting with a prospective investor from the Russian Federation was held in my office. Such meetings are permanent. Pridnestrovie is conveniently located from a geographical point of view. Different logistic highways pass by us. Legislation and internal procedures stimulate investment. And investments affect jobs, production, salaries, and pensions.
Svetlana Kravets, "The Trade Unions of Pridnestrovie" newspaper:
Dear Vadim Nikolaevich, according to the Law of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic “On Remuneration of Employees of the Budget Sphere and the Monetary Satisfaction of Military Personnel”, the minimum wage levels are established for years. However, in the adopted budget for 2020, these parameters are not taken into account. The inflation rate is not taken into account. Please tell me, what is planned to be done on the issue of raising wages for public sector employees in 2020? And another question, do you receive "The Trade Unions of Pridnestrovie" newspaper?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
I want to say a word of gratitude for the fact that you began to publish a trade union newspaper, and for taking care of public sector employees. I will express my opinion. It is reflected both in the Pridnestrovian Development Strategy and in the People’s Program. We are following the path of raising pensions and wages and will continue to move along this path. We must be responsible people, and if we make a legislative decision, we must execute it, regardless of the circumstances. To date, Pridnestrovie has two challenges. This is a gas issue and a matter of electricity export and contracting. These are challenges that need to be addressed.
Pay attention to such a powerful state as the Russian Federation: they always have an estimate of the cost of oil. We look at the news, which indicates how much a barrel of oil is worth. Depending on this, the ruble against the dollar rises or falls, and certain social obligations are fulfilled. And this is Russia. They also depend on some external factor. We have other external factors. Not barrels of oil - it does not depend on it. But the transit of gas and the energy contract depends. They must be responsible people, and I am glad that such responsible people are both in the Government of the PMR and in the Supreme Council. Subject to overcoming these challenges, we will consider the issue of raising pensions and salaries from April 1 of this year.
Nadezhda Shvets, the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
I have a question on agriculture. This is a very important industry for our republic. Basically, we are developing groups of crops. Are any measures being taken to expand the area of vegetable crops?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
In general, our agro-industrial complex shows a steady growth in the contribution of GDP, interest is not bad, the movement is on. Indeed, grain growing prevails in Pridnestrovie. Why is that? Not because farmers are lazy and it is beneficial for them to grow crops. This is not so, such an opinion would be unfair to our farmers. The thing is that you can’t grow a garden or vegetables where there is no irrigation. The basis for growing crops that provide increased added value is irrigation. We work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, there is a program for investments aimed at creating conditions for land irrigation. This is the construction of appropriate reclamation stations, the laying of land reclamation networks. Irrigated plots will be used for growing crops that require irrigation. I want to set our farmers to a gradual transition. It is necessary to invest in irrigation. We have a low water charge, and without expanding irrigation systems we will have to revise it. If the area of irrigated land grows, then the price of water will continue. We extend soft loans to those who are interested in growing stone orchards or vegetable crops. All this gives a good added value. This is a complex problem, but the most important thing is that we see it and are working on its solution together with the Russian Federation and with our agricultural producers. Now we have a dry autumn-winter, more like spring. Perhaps everyone is happy, but it’s not sweet for agrarians. All winter crops suffered, so I gave the order to analyze the situation and compensate for the losses.
We have very little land. Each meter should be cultivated in a businesslike manner. Unacceptable, for example, the growth of such a crop as Ambrosia. I want to warn everyone - and the Minister of Agriculture, and the Head of the civil service for ecology, and the Heads of administrations, and all agrarians - if Ambrosia grows on the plot, this allotment will be withdrawn. The best way to combat Ambrosia is with technical measures. I gave instructions to study how to deal with it. They studied and said that you can only cultivate, dig out - no more. This mechanical method is practiced everywhere. We must set this task so that every farmer understands that the growth of Ambrosia on its plot is unacceptable. If this happens, there will be land acquisition and transfer to a bona fide land user.
Violetta Ganina, the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
You have repeatedly emphasized that downsizing of the workforce is not allowed. Recently, instructions were given to the prime minister, emphasizing that it is impossible to downsize personnel at the enterprises of natural monopolies, in particular, in the branches that are in our regions. How to achieve this and why is it important?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
I want to make it clear that there were no Government decisions regarding downsizing of the workforce. We are talking about the state unitary enterprises “ERES” and “Water Supply and Sanitation”. People raised the problem. I met with groups, going around the republic. In Dubossary and in Rybnitsa it was said that technical specialists are downsized on the ground - in the branches of water utilities and electric networks. I instructed Alexander Martynov to suspend decisions on these organizations until we figure out what happened. There is different information, yet incomprehensible to me. Immediately after the press conference, I will meet with the employees of the branches, with the people who are said to have been fired, and with the Heads of administrations to talk directly with people and find out the truth - whether it is true or not. In any case, the decisions are still suspended. Of course, any structure should be dynamic. If, for example, there is a personnel surplus of secondary specialists whose work does not affect the production process, it may be necessary to reduce it. As for the working specialists, reductions are unacceptable here. This is my concept. Today we will try to find out and improve the situation. Such decisions should not be taken “on the spot”, they should be responsible structure in the form of a ministry or department.
Anna Turchenko, News of Pridnestrovie:
Vadim Nikolayevich, pilot projects on increasing salaries for employees are already operating in some ministries. The budget for next year indicates that such projects can be implemented by all ministries and departments. In your opinion, can such a measure have a real effect in solving the personnel problem.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
We can already draw conclusions based on the experience of two-year implementation of pilot projects. In some ministries and departments they have proven their effectiveness. There was a real increase in the monetary content of public sector employees. But, unfortunately, this is very difficult for large-scale ministries. In compact ministries and departments - it is possible. Based on this, the Government takes a flexible, in my opinion, and balanced position and offers to implement pilot projects in individual departments in large departments. If there is even the smallest opportunity to create conditions of pay raise, we must follow this path - very carefully, conservatively, so that we do not succeed, as in the saying "The best is the enemy of the good". In any case, only by legislative means do we have the right to introduce certain changes in existing forms of relations between the collective and the state. The decision is made not just by the President or the Minister, but by the President, the Government and the Supreme Council of the PMR. This is an agreed position.
Lydia Salkutsan, the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
The question is somewhat unexpected, but it is inspired by the events and the terrible incident that occurred yesterday in Russia. Unknown with firearms entered the Lubyanka FSB building. There were casualties - two law enforcement officers died. The question is about the security situation with us. Vadim Nikolaevich, how are we doing with the control of firearms?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
It’s good with us, not so much with the neighbors. Seriously, let's talk about the incident that occurred in the Russian Federation. It is unfortunate that those employees who died or were injured. This is a tragedy. Such unkind events can occur even in the country with high level of counter-terrorism. On the Internet they are rejoicing. What do you rejoicing? This is the loss of life. They accuse Russia of not being able to protect people. Russia is able to protect people. I can name some numbers. In the 90s, up to two hundred terrorist attacks per year were committed in the Russian Federation. This year, three terrorist attacks were brought to their logical conclusion, more than thirty were prevented. This indicates the effectiveness of the law enforcement system and the system of combating terrorism. Even in these conditions, no one is safe. This tragedy is a confirmation. We are in a situation where you always need to think about it. It is necessary to finance and create the corresponding power structures and mechanisms for countering terrorism. We have created them.
As for turnover of firearms: we have taken into account absolutely all firearms. As for the weapons that citizens can buy, in the entire history of the sale, not a single rifled gun participated in criminal reports. That is, the weapons that people acquire did not participate in the commission of crimes. In this regard, everything is in order in our state: strict accounting, strict system and strict control.
As a result of the events that took place in Ukraine (I think this is a common tragedy for Ukraine and the Russian Federation), three million two hundred thousand rifled guns were stolen. This can arm two or three armies. It is only weapon. What about ammunition? What about explosives?
When we talk about strengthening border controls, we are talking about our security. Colleagues from Moldova, who declare the need for the liquidation of posts, do not understand that we are talking about the safety of people, including them, those who live in Moldova. We are like a filter, cut off the penetration of weapons into the territory of Moldova. There are posts, and they will protect our security. This is not an attribute, but, unfortunately, the harsh reality of the processes that take place in neighboring states. I aimed the personnel of our law enforcement agencies to identify, tight control, operational work. We will continue to create and develop a system to counter terrorism and reduce the terrorist danger in Pridnestrovie.
Tatyana Osipova, radio "Inter-FM":
I want to return to health care - to the problem of tuberculosis in the republic. The situation is not getting any better. What to do? Everyone should do prevention on their own?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
There are certain difficulties with tuberculosis. The problem is its active distribution. There are targeted tuberculosis control programs. Unfortunately, ANO “Eurasian Integration” did not complete the center for tuberculosis control in Bendery. If it worked, it would be easier. Everyone who has tuberculosis and has a different disease visits only this clinic so as not to infect other people. Today, the task is to complete all the facilities of ANO “Eurasian Integration”, including the tuberculosis center. I think that with its launch, prevention will be more active. This work is ongoing, but we need to move on. There are problems in places of detention - there, too, it is necessary to build hospitals and treat people in conditions of detention, appropriate regimes. We know these tasks, we are working on their solution.
Suzanna Avakyan, the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
I would like to talk about life in the villages. In recent years, the state has been actively working in this direction, but there are still problems. Somewhere partially, somewhere completely lacking infrastructure. We are talking about broken roads, about problems with water. No shops, pharmacies. Mostly pensioners live in these villages. When will progress come to them?
To continue another question: the problem of public transport in villages. I will give an example. The villages of Novye Goiany, Vinogradnoe, Brashtyany. Transport is either once a week, or does not go at all. How do you see the solution to this problem?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
This is important question. According to statistics, about a third of our population lives in rural areas. It is categorically unacceptable to question or destroy the rural way of life. What is needed for rural development? The development of the agro-industrial complex is by itself. I will name the basic elements that must exist in every village. These are a school, a kindergarten, additional school education, sports sections, a renovated House of Culture, gas, water, lighting (electrical networks), communication facilities, affordable transport logistics. Without all this, it is difficult to imagine the normal functioning of rural settlements. The development strategy of Pridnestrovie, all kinds of programs (including the Capital Investment Fund) are aimed at meeting these needs. I am familiar with these problems. All of them can not be solved simultaneously.
I’ll give you some numbers so that you understand what work was carried out for 2018 - 2019. Homeowners are provided with gas almost everywhere. Water remains. In 2018 - 2019, a rural water supply program began to be implemented. Water supply appeared in the villages, which had never been before; there were only wells. In two years, we spent 20 million rubles on this, plus another five million from external sources. Thanks to this, stations were built, wells were drilled and 49 villages of our republic were provided with water. These are Slobodzeya, Kamenka, Dubossary, Grigoriopol and Rybnitsa districts. This program will continue in 2020 and 2021.
As for the electrification of households. For 2018 - 2019, we spent more than ten million rubles on the electrification of rural streets. 170 kilometers of routes and networks have been laid. Thanks to this program, the central streets of 120 villages are lit. The program will continue until we provide lighting for all villages. 36 kindergartens and schools in rural areas have been completely renovated. 9 rural houses of culture have already been repaired, another 10 are in the program. Rural roads are also being repaired: for three years we invested 62 million rubles in them. It is impossible to do everything all at once - the budget is not elastic, we can spend exactly as much as we earn without prejudice to other sectors of our national economy. In addition, we are repairing medical and obstetric centres. It is also difficult to imagine a developed village without the provision of decent medical care. Plus, as an addition, rural tourism. This is also development and jobs.
This is a comprehensive program for the development of agriculture, the purpose of which is to meet the needs of the state. Without the people who work and live in the village, this is impossible. I am inclined to think that we are ready to grow almost the entire contents of the consumer basket ourselves. These are vegetables, fruits, cereals, poultry, cattle and dairy products. Without the development of rural areas, it will be difficult to implement. I don’t want to buy plastic from abroad. I am glad that we have new production facilities for the processing of milk and butter. This is a comprehensive program, and we are moving systematically towards its implementation.
Zinaida Kitskan, the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel:
New Year's holidays are coming. What traditions are in your family, how will you celebrate?
Vadim Krasnoselsky, the PMR President:
The traditions are the same as probably any family. This is a family holiday. We always spend New Year's holidays in Pridnestrovie - with wife, children, parents and grandson. So it will be this year. Necessarily night service at Christmas in the Orthodox church - from the sixth to the seventh of January, a Christmas tree, a meeting with godfathers - I respect traditions.
Speaking of New Year's holidays. Today in the morning I signed a decree according to which the 31st day will be declared a day off. After, of course, we will work this day one Saturday. We will carry out a Saturday work day - we will clear, for example, the Dniester bank, plant trees.
Dear colleagues! I tried to fully answer your questions. I want to add something else. We live in conditions of non-recognition - this is not an easy burden, a great responsibility to people. What is the most important thing for a person? I am convinced - the internal state. This is peace, security and the rule of law, ecology, fulfillment of social obligations, this is a multi-vector development. The main thing, of course, is peace. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, we are witnessing the tragedies that happen to our neighbors. They are recognized - but there is a war going on. Ask any person where he wants to live - in an unrecognized state, but in a guaranteed peace, or in a recognized but in war. The answer is obvious.
The convenience of living in the republic does not depend on geopolitical players, but on us. No need to refer to an external factor, you need to keep it in mind. We need to work so that we maintain peace, security and the rule of law, a good environment, fulfill social obligations and develop. This is the main thing. It depends on us.
I recall those principles that are laid down in the Development Strategy of our statehood. This is political stability, economic self-sufficiency and social justice. All of them underlie our state idea, according to which we guarantee our independence and strive to gain international recognition. We continue to form a community of Pridnestrovian people, respect languages, traditions and build a socially oriented state with a market economy. This is a strategy for the development of our state.
Recognition will be, do not doubt it. They recognize strong and self-sufficient, transparent and democratic. This component depends on us, on our work. We must be ready for recognition.
Taking into account the fact that we are on the eve of the good, beautiful and bright holidays of Christmas and New Year, I want to congratulate all those present and the Pridnestrovian people and wish stability, harmony, love and peace. Peace to Pridnestrovie!