The printed version of the interview of Vadim Krasnoselsky to the Parlamentskaya Gazeta: the article is presented by the author of the material.
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky told the Parlamentskaya Gazeta about how the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR) is coping with the next wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, about the dialogue with the new leadership of Moldova, as well as about the unique cultural code of the inhabitants of the left bank of the Dniester.
About the pandemic
The pandemic hit hard all countries of the world. The location of Pridnestrovie is such that we are very dependent on our neighbors. Europe is close, borders with Ukraine and Moldova, therefore, the situation with the number of cases, which develops in these states, affects us. The increase in the number of cases is confirmation of this.
The Operational Headquarters operates in Pridnestrovie. Every Monday and Thursday we hold appropriate meetings, give recommendations, and the most important thing is to expand the bed fund and provide everyone who needs hospital treatment. There is no need to be afraid of the number of cases, the main thing is to organize appropriate treatment. We really hope for vaccination of course. Currently, we have received a small amount, about two thousand doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, about one thousand Pfizer vaccine. Of course, we very much hope for the earliest delivery of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.
My visit to the Russian Federation is related to agreements on the supply of this vaccine. Preliminary agreement was reached on the supply of 62 thousand doses of the Sputnik V vaccine at our meeting with Deputy Prime Minister, Special Representative for the Development of Trade and Economic Relations with Moldova Dmitry Kozak, on the 28th of December, 2020.
Bureaucratic obstacles arose in Chisinau unexpectedly. To date, all obstacles have been overcome, and it has already been decided that the vaccine will be delivered to Pridnestrovie in April and May this year. We are waiting. Now we are solving technical, logistic issues of delivery
I hope that by the autumn everyone will be vaccinated in Pridnestrovie. We will create such an opportunity. As for "Sputnik V", we are ready to buy 200-300 thousand doses of vaccine and to vaccinate all willing citizens of Pridnestrovie, closing this problem. By September, we will ensure pandemic security when voting in the elections to the State Duma of Russia.
About economy
The economy of Pridnestrovie is export-oriented. Naturally, when the logistics of supplying products, exporting and importing to Pridnestrovie was disrupted, we suffered from this of course. Moreover, we had drought and the export of agricultural products decreased dramatically in 2020. Nevertheless, we managed to preserve the payment of salaries and pensions and fulfill all financial obligations to the population.
The basis of the PMR's economy is agricultural products, metalworking and machine-building products, textiles, and alcoholic beverages. These are the main types of goods that are supplied to the Russian Federation. Russia is very interesting as sales market for us of course. This market is large. This is in demand by Russia. I hope that the volumes of imports that have sagged during the pandemic will be restored in 2021 - 2022.
Relations with Moldova
Relationships are not easy. And it’s not even about the President Maia Sandu. The problems with the negotiation process began in June 2019. It was then that Moldova thwarted a number of agreements, the number of meetings of working groups and, accordingly, the adoption of certain decisions was sharply reduced. The most important thing is Moldova's failure to fulfill its obligations under previously signed agreements.
The pandemic made things worse of course. We met 2021 with a big pause in the negotiation process. Maia Sandu as the elected President, got what she got, she will have to figure it all out sooner or later.
About peacekeepers
Only the lazy did not talk about the change in the status of the peacekeepers in Pridnestrovie. It is important to come to an understanding of who thinks what when discussing the topic of peacekeeping operation. Someone, looking at the peacekeepers, thinks only about the military component, about the armed people. I see the peacekeepers as an opportunity to continue the negotiation process between Tiraspol and Chisinau, to guarantee peace and protect civilians. Therefore, I invite all those who make statements about the withdrawal of peacekeepers from the banks of the Dniester to think about whether peace will be preserved in the region, whether the negotiation process will be preserved.
About the unique cultural code of Pridnestrovians
Pridnestrovie is an attractive region. Nice nature, good climate, good people. We very harmoniously combine three layers of history: the history of the Russian Empire, the history of the Soviet Union and the history of modern history. No generational conflict and no accusations against someone. We have no blank spots, we recognize both the tragic pages of our history and the victorious ones.
We form the so-called cultural immunity in Pridnestrovie, a kind of cultural code against this background. What is immunity against? Against nihilism, swagger, rudeness, against those who are trying to rewrite history. If we talk about possible territorial transformations (who knows what will happen next, in 10, 15, 20, 30 years), we take what we have - our history, our language, our culture, our traditions. This is our foundation. Therefore, everything that is now being done in Pridnestrovie in terms of preserving the historical truth, opening new museums, reconstructing objects is dedicated to one goal: to form in our country such people who love history, such people who love the state and value culture and traditions. This cannot be taken away under any transformations.