TASS:
Moldova is increasing political and economic pressure on Pridnestrovie. The Moldovan side made a number of harsh statements, demonstrating its willingness to continue in the same vein at the meeting of political representatives held after a nearly year-long pause. What consequences could Chisinau's actions have?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
The fact that political representatives met has been positive already. I always insist that dialogue continue under any circumstances, especially difficult ones. We must utilize all available platforms and tools to achieve this. Problems will not be resolved simply by ignoring it. It is important at the same time to understand that communication between political representatives, while absolutely necessary, does not constitute full-fledged negotiations. The negotiation process remains frozen. The international and legitimate "5+2" format has been dysfunctional for seven years. Contacts between experts and negotiators are rare and yield no practical results. Moldovan representatives refuse to sign any agreements with Pridnestrovie, including those of a purely humanitarian nature. I recall that Chisinau even rejected our proposed declaration on peaceful approaches to conflict resolution, despite being a completely transparent and understandable document.
No agreements mean no solution to the problems that exist, have been accumulating and worsening for years, harming people, not only in Pridnestrovie, but in Moldova as well. There are numerous areas for productive cooperation that would benefit everyone. These include the fight against cross-border crime, joint efforts to combat drug and arms smuggling, cooperation in emergency situations, large-scale environmental projects, the creation of a barrier-free economic space, and much more. However, the Moldovan side acts to the detriment of both common sense and the interests of the people: it politicizes any issues in relations with Pridnestrovie and has avoided full-fledged communication at the level of the top leadership of both sides for years now. Anyone who believes that such actions are the path to conflict resolution is deeply mistaken. The Pridnestrovian people, who have lived on this land for centuries and possess their own centuries-old history and unique identity, cannot be excluded from the negotiation process. A settlement is only possible through equal and civilized dialogue. Therefore, we will continue to take all possible measures, including working with international actors, to return Moldova to constructive negotiations.
TASS:
According to members of the Moldovan Parliament, they are preparing to abolish VAT and excise tax exemptions for Pridnestrovian enterprises this year. They say that these measures will affect gas and electricity supplies in the future. How would you comment on these measures?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
It's difficult to view this as anything other than another attempt to profit at the expense of the Pridnestrovian people, as yet another instrument of pressure on Pridnestrovie. The Moldovan side's publicly disseminated arguments are highly questionable. Challenging them in the absence of dialogue is also problematic and even futile. Here we are discussing the impossibility, inexpediency, and inadmissibility of such unilateral measures, their negative consequences, and the economic, social, and political risks. What about the other side? At best, they'll read it. Moldova refuses to discuss this, especially at the level of the two republics' top leadership, and it makes no concessions without taking opinion of Pridnestrovie into account. This is the root of the problem. This is precisely what we've been fighting for three and a half decades. Everyone understands (and must understand) perfectly well that new levies will automatically worsen business conditions for businesses, a huge blow to the socially oriented budget, and therefore to pensions, salaries, and benefits. This is a direct threat to people's well-being and lives, which is completely unacceptable. Let me remind you that our budget is in no way connected to Moldova's. We fulfill all social obligations with our own resources. Meanwhile, they're asking us to burden our own taxpayers with an additional burden that will fill the Moldovan treasury out of special "concern" for us.
TASS:
Chisinau is claiming that the tax increases will create a fund from which they intend to finance projects to bring the two banks of the Dniester closer together. Are you ready to discuss such a mechanism?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
We are ready to discuss. The question is – what? The beautiful word "convergence"? It sounds excellent. A good concept by definition. However, it is difficult to reconcile with reality on all fronts. Where is the desire for rapprochement and compromise? Moldova's policy towards the Pridnestrovians is literally repulsive. I'm not even talking about the historical, moral, and value aspects. Pridnestrovie will certainly not imitate Moldova. As for the economy, go ahead if you have something to offer. We'll study it, discuss, and present our vision. I've already mentioned problematic areas in which investment could be made that would benefit both sides. Let's be objective: history knows of no example of Moldova returning to Pridnestrovie even a single ruble illegally taken from our citizens. Experience shows that such decisions, developed and adopted somewhere far from the negotiating table, simply don't work. They cause far more harm than good. The very approach of doing something in Pridnestrovie without Pridnestrovie is extremely counterproductive. Nothing will work that way. To truly implement any projects, honest and constructive discussions are needed within the framework of official negotiating formats. Political representative of Pridnestrovie officially presented a number of initiatives to his Moldovan counterpart, including a list of infrastructure projects in the areas of ecology, social protection, healthcare, and education at the meeting on February 26. Pridnestrovie proposes that all participants in the negotiation process find the resources for their implementation. This will benefit the residents of both Pridnestrovie and Moldova. Let's work on it, we are not opposed if this is convergence.
TASS:
Moldova's citizenship law has been amended. It now allows residents of Pridnestrovie to have their Moldovan passports revoked. The president of the republic recently exercised this right against several former and current Pridnestrovian officials. What practical effect will these measures have?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
What effect they're hoping for should be asked of those who made the decision. We see what we see – the true attitude toward Pridnestrovians. The presidential and parliamentary elections in Moldova are still fresh in our memories, when Pridnestrovians, even those holding Moldovan citizenship, were prevented from voting. They've moved on to revoking citizenship. This is a clear violation of human rights and freedoms according to all international standards, including European norms.
TASS:
Moldova and Pridnestrovie are experiencing an energy crisis. Is some kind of cooperation in this area possible between the two banks of the Dniester?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
This is another issue that is endlessly politicized. There is politics, and there are facts: energy risks for the entire region are growing, with large-scale power outages occurring for various reasons. The full operation of the State Regional Power Plant, which supplies energy to both Pridnestrovie and Moldova, could become a stabilizing element. This is where cooperation, energy cooperation is crucial. We are open to it.
TASS:
Pridnestrovie is facing another test in the energy supply sector right now. What is the current situation?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
Yes, the events unfolding in the Middle East have not bypassed us, indeed. This is natural, and expected, unfortunately. Geopolitics and military actions have provoked the disruption of natural gas supply chains, rising prices, and the disruption of payment mechanisms. I cannot help but thank the Russian Federation for its assistance in this regard. Russia is largely responsible for the fact that Pridnestrovie currently has a limited supply of gas. It's also worth noting that Moldova for its part is not impeding supplies and is participating in resolving emerging energy issues in the region. This is a global problem that must be addressed jointly.
Regarding the current situation, gas supplies have been significantly reduced, and we are forced to limit consumption for commercial purposes and for thermal power generation. We are forced to conserve as much as possible. Our thermal power plant has been converted to coal for now. Its reserves allow us to supply the republic with electricity. Social institutions continue to have heat. Hot water for household needs is available. I can't say the problem caught us by surprise. No. All agencies are mobilized, everyone knows what to do. We are monitoring the situation and responding appropriately to any changes as it should be.
TASS:
The "yellow" terrorist alert level was recently extended in Pridnestrovie. What does this mean, and what security threats exist for Pridnestrovie today?
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky:
Pridnestrovie has been subjected to a series of terrorist attacks in recent years as you know. We managed to prevent horrific terrorist attacks in Tiraspol and Bendery furthermore, one of which was planned against a high-ranking delegation of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. The international community ignored the terrorist threat to Pridnestrovie despite the gravity of the situation. We witnessed a complete silence on this topic and a lack of interest from foreign participants, including those whose citizens could be harmed if the terrorists carried out their plans. We are forced to act independently and take all possible measures to prevent further attacks under these circumstances. Extending the "yellow" code terrorist threat is a necessity, driven by realities.