Christopher Smith, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Eastern Europe and Policy and Regional Affairs in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, arrived in Tiraspol. This is his first visit to Pridnestrovie. The President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Vadim Krasnoselsky met with the diplomat. The meeting took place at the presidential executive office. The PMR Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev was invited to the discussion.
Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized the importance of dialogue with the United States as an observer in the “5+2” format. The President confirmed commitment of Pridnestrovie to the principles of maintaining peace and security. He emphasized that the negotiation process must continue, no matter how different the positions of the parties may be, and noted that he considers the format of the “Permanent Conference...” and interaction at the “1+1” level to be relevant.
Christopher Smith assured in turn that the United States stands for a peaceful resolution of the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian conflict and supports any positive dialogues.
The interlocutors discussed the situation in the republic that has developed in connection with the pressure by Moldova. Vadim Krasnoselsky drew the attention of the foreign diplomat to the fact that this is not only about blocking the economic activities of Pridnestrovians, but also about the violation of other rights and freedoms of citizens living in Pridnestrovie. The meeting participants said that the republic is export-oriented and interacts with more than 90 countries, including the United States. The European Union has created conditions for economic entities of the PMR to do business with European countries by including them in the free trade zone. DCFTA is impossible without registration in Moldova. Pridnestrovian companies fulfilled this condition, thereby obtaining the right to open accounts in Moldovan banks, the presence of which confirms the transparency of business. But Moldovan banks refuse to open accounts for Pridnestrovian legal entities without officially reasoned justification. Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that the situation is the following in practice: Europe has opened a window of economic opportunities for us, and Moldova is boarding them up.
Speaking about the duties introduced by Moldova on January 1 of this year for Pridnestrovian participants in foreign trade activities, Vadim Krasnoselsky called the statements that entrepreneurs have the opportunity to move goods duty-free if they have a certificate as hypocrisy, since obtaining this very certificate is possible only if they have an account in a Moldovan bank. Pridnestrovians found themselves in a vicious circle. The PMR President emphasized that we believe in actions, but not slogans.
