Interview of the PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky to RIA Novosti
- Vadim Nikolaevich, the meeting in the "5+2" format was postponed in November due to the fault of Moldova; are you negotiating with your Moldovan partners? When can a meeting in this format take place?
- Frankly speaking, there is a message from our side, which is expressed in the necessity of this format. A political representative has resigned in Moldova, a new one has not been appointed, and this is the problem. I sent a letter to the President of Moldova Mrs. Maya Sandu through the OSCE mission on the 2nd of December with a request to quickly appoint a political representative and convene this format. There is an agenda, and the agenda requires discussion, these are all our bilateral relations and the implementation of previously signed agreements. Therefore there is no hope that this format will take place this year, but we need to work for the next year of course. Therefore, we will appeal to the Moldovan side and to all guarantors and intermediaries so that the "5+2" format will take place next year.
- That is, so far you do not see any interest from the Moldovan side, and you have not received a response from them to your letter?
- No, I have not received an answer, and there is no interest yet.
- How can you comment on the statement of the Moldovan Foreign Ministry that the arrival of the Russian ambassador to your inauguration was an unfriendly step, and the statement of some Moldovan politicians that the ambassador should be declared persona non grata?
- A strange statement, of course. Firstly, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation visits Tiraspol constantly, and each time the Ambassador participates in the inauguration of the President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Let me remind you that 220 thousand Russian citizens live in Pridnestrovie, who also elect the President of Pridnestrovie. It is the President of Pridnestrovie who represents these citizens of Russia. Therefore, when the ambassador of the Russian Federation comes to visit his citizens, I think there should be no problems in this. The fact that Moldova, on the contrary, restricts the movement of Russian citizens through its territory, who are sent to the elections in Pridnestrovie, is a problem. Probably, it was necessary to talk about this with the Ambassador, as well, because this is an unfriendly step, in my opinion.
- What is your attitude to the statements of the Moldovan side that Pridnestrovie should not use its symbols on documents when communicating with Chisinau and international partners? Will you heed the demand? How can you comment on the statement about your illegitimacy?
- As for the symbolism, Moldova has one problem - they either do not fulfill, or they forget, and then do not fulfill the previously signed agreements. Let me remind you that the symbols were approved by a document signed by the Moldovan side as well. This, in my opinion, is 1997. And Moldova recognized our symbols, absolutely everything. Therefore, individual statements by Moldovan politicians are either due to illiteracy or a provocation. Therefore, we will use our symbols at any meetings, at any venues. This is our right.
As for the non-recognition of the elections of the President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, let us discuss. Probably, after all, Moldova needs to figure out what they recognize and what they do not recognize. Let me remind you that Pridnestrovie is an equal participant in the "5 + 2" format. This format is recognized by the entire world community. Pridnestrovie and Moldova have equal rights and equal responsibilities in this format. And who represents Pridnestrovie in the 5 + 2 format? The President, officials appointed by the President. That is, at the same time somewhere they do not recognize, and then they sit down at the negotiating table and talk, that is, they do.
- That is, they do it when it is necessary, and do not do when it is not necessary?
- Yes. Moldova is very inconsistent in its statements. They need to work out a position – either this or that. It turns out: today – one position, tomorrow – some other position, and the day after tomorrow there will be a third position. This is inconsistency, and it is not serious for a recognized state.
- You said that it was necessary to open an airport in Tiraspol. How can this be done, is it possible to obtain an ICAO permit? Or could it be a domestic airport for your own use?
- No, we do not need an internal airport, of course, for Pridnestrovie to fly from Tiraspol to Bendery. In principle, we have all the conditions for creating our own international airport in the city of Tiraspol, this is a more voluminous issue of course, but we are ready for this. We are ready to restore it even at our own expense, but we need a special permit.
- Can't you get an ICAO permit?
- This is not yet expected.
- In addition to the debt of the right-bank part of Moldova, consumers from Pridnestrovie owe more than $ 7 billion to Gazprom. As the chairman of the board of "Moldovagaz" explained, this part of the debt was formed due to systematic non-payments by consumers from the left bank of the Dniester. Do you admit you are in debt? Are there any fears that they will stop supplying gas from Moldova?
- The question is important. I will answer it. First, I would like to draw your attention to the statements of some Moldovan politicians that Moldova pays for Pridnestrovie. Moldova does not pay for Pridnestrovie, they deceive their own citizens. Moldova does not pay for Pridnestrovie. The debt is accumulating and it belongs to Pridnestrovie. I have already said more than once that the gas consumed by our consumers – Pridnestrovian legal entities and individuals – falls on Pridnestrovie. We are ready with Gazprom to consider the payment option. This can be any period of time, the main thing is the very fact of consent to the payment of this debt, and we do not refuse it. Direct contractual relations are required in order to pay this debt to Gazprom.
- With Gazprom?
- Of course, with Gazprom. That is why I sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Moldova Mrs. Gavrilica with a request to provide a license for the appropriate legal relations with Gazprom, and to give special codes for the already imported gas to Pridnestrovie, which should go directly from Gazprom to Pridnestrovie. There is no answer. By and large, there is a rejection of these legal relations. Therefore, here again Moldova is doing something in two ways. First, they do not want to give us independence, so that we in fact pay for the gas of the Russian Federation ourselves. Secondly, they say that it is not our duty. But it is understandable that it is not yours, but then give us the opportunity to pay. They do not give. The question is again hanging in the air. That is, I indicated my desire to pay, we recognize the debt, this is common sense, we do not refuse it, but give us the opportunity to do it. They don't.
- Do you mean the Tiraspoltransgaz company? Is it not given a license to communicate with Gazprom directly?
- Absolutely correct.
- Do you plan to create an alternative company that will deal with gas supplies to Pridnestrovie? What kind of company can it be when it can be created?
- We are working in this direction. Nevertheless, Moldova should issue a license, but Moldova refuses, we also addressed this proposal.
- Can't you communicate directly with Gazprom?
- We can not. Therefore, again: they recognize, they do not recognize. Do you understand? Give independence to Pridnestrovie in the implementation of the gas issue or not. Then pay yourself, as I understand it. We want to pay, give us this opportunity. In general, the ball is on the Moldovan side, let them make their own decisions.
- How do you feel about the militarization of Ukraine, the supply of weapons there? Could this affect the Pridnestrovian region?
- This is a complex issue. Ukraine has very complicated relations with the Russian Federation, and the Russian Federation with Ukraine. Not only these two states are in complex legal relations. There are other players who stand behind the backs of certain states. In general, I have a negative attitude towards militarization - when there is militarization, there is a danger of escalation and hostilities. I am against escalation and hostilities. This my opinion. Of course, one must prepare for this, in essence defend oneself, but one should categorically not act as an aggressor.
- There are also reports of exercises near Pridnestrovie, do you regard this as a threat to Pridnestrovie? Are there any response plans, are you preparing?
- Everyone has the right to conduct exercises wherever he wants on his territory, we will also conduct exercises on our territory. Ukraine is conducting, Moldova is conducting, and Pridnestrovie is conducting. This is a natural process in these turbulent times. I would like to hold festivals, cultural exchanges, humanitarian exchanges, and not train the armed forces, let's say, at the borders. Nevertheless, I certainly see it as a challenge, but we are preparing for it.
- How?
- We will also conduct exercises.
- John Bolton's statement on the "destruction" of Pridnestrovie. Do you consider this his personal opinion or voice of the opinion of the American elite as a whole? Do you expect that the West will conduct this work by peaceful means, or do you think power scenarios are not ruled out?
- The USA is a member of the "5 + 2" format. I have not heard such statements from a participant in the "5 + 2" format, from the US Ambassador to Moldova, from other representatives.
- He, in particular, said that one of the priorities of the policy should be the destruction of Pridnestrovie, an artificial entity completely dependent on Russia. These are his words.
- These are the words of a person who absolutely does not understand the history of Pridnestrovie, the history of the conflict. I would advise Mr. Bolton to carefully study the foundations of the Pridnestrovian conflict, with which he was associated and why, by and large, it happened. The fact that Russia supports Pridnestrovie, so, excuse me, 220 thousand Russian citizens live on the territory of Pridnestrovie, who are constantly under pressure, various restrictions and went through the war against Pridnestrovie. It is interesting to ask a question to Mr. Bolton - if there was such an enclave, where 220 thousand citizens of the United States of America would live, who would be in the blockade and would have certain restrictions, how would the United States react to these challenges? Probably supported. This is how Russia supports its right and duty in principle.
As for the Pridnestrovian conflict, I want to recall the history of law. How is the Pridnestrovian conflict different from other conflicts? This is Abkhazia, and Ossetia, and Kosovo - you can name a lot of other territories. By and large, more than two dozen states, which were not previously on the world map, gained their independence over the past 30 years. Pridnestrovie differs in that Moldova legally renounced Pridnestrovie and actually renounced Pridnestrovie. The Moldovan politicians-gentlemen should not think about the Pridnestrovian symbols, but fulfill their own legislation. I remind you that on June 23, 1990, Moldova proclaimed sovereignty from the USSR, and on August 27, 1991, they issued a declaration of independence. These documents clearly state that the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was insignificant and that the Moldavian SSR was created illegally. Do you understand? The Moldavian SSR was created by the annexation of Bessarabia to the MASSR, that is, modern Moldova to modern Pridnestrovie. This is illegal. If the parliament of the republic recognizes this as illegal, then, excuse me, you are giving up Pridnestrovie. After all, what is the whole point? Then, in the 90s, all union republics declared their independence. It was their right, but nonetheless. Moldova has gone further. It seceded not only from the Soviet Union, she seceded from the Moldavian SSR. Pridnestrovie was a part of the Moldavian SSR for another year. Do Moldovan politicians know this, or do we need to constantly remind them of this information? It would be better thought about.
In addition, in this declaration of independence, Moldova assumed the obligation to eliminate all legal consequences of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. This is a rejection of Pridnestrovie. Moreover, this declaration of independence directly states that when the Moldavian SSR was created, the people of Pridnestrovie were not asked how their right to self-determination was violated. You also need to think about this, these are serious things.
The Moldovan parliament at its core in 90-91 destroyed the integrity of the Moldavian SSR, abandoning Pridnestrovie. We remained an independent unit – at the beginning of the PMSSR, when the Soviet Union collapsed, after we became Pridnestrovie, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, that's all. Now, if Mr. Bolton knew about this, he would not have made such statements – about the artificiality of the creation of this state. It was the people who created the state due to destructive actions and decisions taken by the Parliament of Moldova, there are no other options.
- You said in your last interview with RIA Novosti that during the second presidential term you will address Russia with a request to recognize Pridnestrovie. Have you applied? Is such an appeal being prepared? When can you expect?
- You know, we held a referendum in 2006, where the overwhelming majority of the people, the people of Pridnestrovie, spoke out for the independence of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and further reunification with the Russian Federation. By and large, a legal act through a referendum has already taken place in Pridnestrovie. One can already recognize on the basis of this.
- Russia offered the US and NATO to agree on security guarantees, not to carry out large-scale exercises near the borders, in particular, not to deploy missiles in Europe. Do you support such proposals? Do you think this will help stabilize the situation in Europe?
- Any deployment of antimissile defense is a challenge to the neighbors of any state. It should be understood that any missile defense can turn into an offensive force. Any surface-to-air launcher can be translated into “surface-to-surface”, everyone understands this – people who have at least some relation to the military sphere. Therefore, this is a definite challenge. Any placement of anti-missile systems on a particular territory reduces the time it takes for missiles to fly to the adjacent territory. There is a problem with this. Those people who distribute anti-missile systems probably have a different intent. All this again causes regret and creates a certain danger. Of course, I am against such movements, against such options.
- What guarantees would Tiraspol want for itself? What did you ask for, what did you promise at the meetings in Moscow?
- I remind you that 220 thousand citizens of Russia live in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, the remaining hundreds of thousands consider themselves Russian compatriots. Therefore, we have a number of problems, a number of questions that stand today. First, this is the full-fledged work of the consular post in Tiraspol. To date, the consular post is not working properly, and instead of the required three employees, one is working. Naturally, 220 thousand Russian citizens who live with us must receive certain documents – passports run out, death certificates must be obtained – this is life, to receive birth certificates, to change certain documents. Unfortunately, Russian citizens living in Pridnestrovie are fully deprived of their rights in this part. So this is one problem. There are other problems as well – of a cultural, humanitarian and economic nature. We have a lot of ties with the Russian Federation, which must be constantly maintained. All these issues are the agenda of any of my trips to Moscow, and I conduct these negotiations at any venues.
- Regarding security guarantees for Tiraspol, which ones did you want to receive?
- Of course, security guarantees are the preservation of peace that is we have a peacekeeping mission of the Russian Federation on the banks of the Dniester. In my opinion, the most successful mission and we must continue this mission. This is not only a guarantee of peace, it is a guarantee of the continuation of the negotiation process between Pridnestrovie and Moldova. Everything will be very difficult without peacekeepers and those politicians who declare the replacement of a peacekeeping mission by any civilian one, they do not lead to peace, they lead to aggression, to an escalation of the conflict. I can give an example from history again. The city of Bendery was invaded by the armed forces from Moldova in 1992, armored vehicles, aircraft, and large-caliber artillery were used against the civilian population. Then there was a civilian mission of the so-called military observers. So what? They all scattered in a second, you know? They did not write a report, any report on the invasion of Moldova into the territory of Pridnestrovie even after the end of hostilities, after the peacekeepers entered. Here is their price – zero. Therefore no one can fulfill the function of peace on the territory of Pridnestrovie and on the territory of the region as a whole except for the peacekeepers of Russia.
- In your opinion, how long should Russian peacekeepers stay in Pridnestrovie?
- According to the mandate, the peacekeepers must remain until the full political comprehensive solution of the problems, do you understand? Until this happens, there should be peacekeepers.
- Instability and protests have been taking place in the post-Soviet space recently, including in Abkhazia. Do you see the possibility of protests and warming up the situation in Pridnestrovie? What do you think is there any intervention of external forces for such a purpose?
- You know, these processes are constantly going on in Abkhazia. I would like to wish stability to Abkhazia, other unrecognized states, recognized states. As for Pridnestrovie, I have never opposed the opposition. I respect the opposition, communicate with many. What is the difference between the opposition and the "fifth column"? The opposition is the group of people who wants the development of Pridnestrovie, who respects the Constitution of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, the laws of Pridnestrovie, and which does not want the destruction of Pridnestrovian statehood, but sees the solution of certain problems in its own way. This is the opposition. It is interesting to listen to them, there are common thoughts, they can even be implemented into the current legislation. So I do in principle. Those people who do not respect the Constitution of our republic, do not obey the laws of our republic, do not respect the justice of our state that is they oppose Pridnestrovie as such, against independence, statehood – this is not an opposition, this is the “fifth column”. Therefore, if I conduct a dialogue with the former, I will not conduct a dialogue with the latter.
- Are there such people in Pridnestrovie?
- Of course there are.
- You did not answer the question, do you feel external interference of external forces in the Pridnestrovian affairs in order to warm up the situation?
- You know, we have internal affairs bodies and special services. Of course, there are such attempts, we suppress them.
- The last question, if you will. The Sheriff players thundered all over the world. How will you build on their success?
- Personally, me or football?
- Will you encourage them, reward the players?
- Of course yes. There should be a recommendation from the Sheriff Football Club. Of course, I am ready to present both the coach, the staff, and the team's players for state awards. It is important. I talked with the coach of the team Yuri Vernidub, wished him success in the next matches, wished him the opportunity to reach one-eighth of the Europa League final. Of course, what the Sheriff team has done is a lot.
- This is a breakthrough.
- Not only for the Sheriff team or Tiraspol, it goes without saying. A team like "Sheriff", when they play football, they destroy the established football patterns that money and only money decide everything. It was the Sheriff team that proved the opposite: tactics, fortitude, coaching professionalism, and the general attitude of the team decide – it all matters.
- How will you develop their success, Pridnestrovie I mean, how will you develop their success?
- You know, sports are developing in Pridnestrovie, and not only football, but now we are talking about football. We have revived such a movement as the "Leather Ball", which developed well under the Soviet Union. We have restored it. Boys and girls participate in this movement. By the way, women's football is developing in our country. This year we held the final games of the "Leather Ball"; in total, about four thousand boys and girls were involved in this movement. The best were awarded. Naturally, we are creating sports infrastructure, building mini-football fields with high-level artificial turf. We are building small football fields and stadiums. When building a new stadium, there is one obligatory requirement: a section should be formed at this stadium, there should be a coach-organizer, boys and girls should be involved. There are many people who wish.