Working meeting of the PMR President with the US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Moldova took place at the presidential executive office. The PMR Minister of Foreign Affairs Vitaly Ignatiev, Adviser to the PMR President on Foreign Policy, Ambassador-at-Large with the rank of Deputy Minister Ruslan Slobodenyuk, the Head of the Department of Political Affairs of the US Embassy in the Republic of Moldova Anna Coleman-Honn and Economic Counselor at the American Embassy Anna Margolis took part in the meeting in addition to Vadim Krasnoselsky and Dereck Hogan.
Vadim Krasnoselsky, welcoming the guests, emphasized that he appreciates the interest of the American side in advancing the negotiation process between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. The PMR President noted that it is not the first time that the United States participates in the resolution of conflict situations. As an example, Vadim Krasnoselsky mentioned the US-mediated signing of cooperation agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, recalling that these two states successfully interact in such spheres as telecommunications, trade, taxation, and banking. All these aspects are relevant in the relationship between Pridnestrovie and Moldova, Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized. He recalled the stagnation of negotiation process, the failure of the Moldovan side to comply with the agreements reached, Moldova's unilateral withdrawal from the operation of vehicle registration points (neutral license plates), cases of libel against the Pridnestrovian side (for example, on topics related to the pandemic). The PMR President emphasized that, despite the desire to find a compromise demonstrated by the Head of the Moldovan State, in practice there is no progress in the negotiations today. Vadim Krasnoselsky asked the US Ambassador's opinion on the reasons for the current situation and on who or what is the force opposing the negotiation process.
Dereck Hogan, in turn, noted that the issues raised are complex in nature, and expressed his readiness to share his vision on each item on the agenda. The diplomat considers the pandemic to be one of the reasons for the slowdown in the negotiation process. Speaking about this global problem, Dereck Hogan was interested in how anti-coronavirus activity is organized in Pridnestrovie. As for rumors about alleged obstacles by the Pridnestrovian side in the movement of teachers and students of Moldovan schools with teaching based on Latin script located in Pridnestrovie, the US Ambassador confirmed that he was personally convinced that there were no such facts. Coronavirus posts were also discussed. Noting that he welcomes gradual reduction of their number the American guest asked about prospects for complete solution of this problem. Vadim Krasnoselsky explained that the appearance of COVID posts is a forced measure of an exclusively humanitarian nature, aimed at preventing import of coronavirus. As soon as epidemiological situation in both republics stabilizes, the remaining coronavirus posts will be removed, Vadim Krasnoselsky assured.
The interlocutors discussed in detail the issues of concern to the parties, having agreed to continue the working dialogue.
