TRANSNISTRIAN PRESIDENT HARBORING HOPES FOR NEW UKRAINIAN LEADERSHIP
09.03.2010
Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov hopes the new leadership of Ukraine’s will be strictly differentiating between political and economic questions, and will never blockade the Transnistrian region.
In his interview with the Inter television channel of Ukraine, Smirnov offered an opinion that in 2006 the then Ukrainian Prime Minister Yury Yehanurov apparently sought to demonstrate his being a genuine European statesman, and found nothing better than to invent accusations that Transnistria was allegedly exporting weaponry.
“Actually, we are being blockaded by Ukraine. Thank God, they do not accuse us of eating children here”, Smirnov said.
In his words, Transnistria would be glad to hear official recognition at least from Russia and Ukraine because for a state to exist, it needs transportation of cargoes, electricity and gas.
Smirnov perceived the recent statement by Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Issues Victor Osipov – concerning the need to render assistance to Transnistria via Moldova – as Chisinau’s attempt to put a new economic pressure on Transnistria.
Igor Smirnov said that Moscow has not yet offered Tiraspol to deploy Russian missiles Iskander in Transnistria, “but we are strong enough to defend our native land. Transnistria is supposed to be ready for any development of events and for a possible escalation of tension and for a new military conflict. Such danger does exist. Despite previous accords, we can hear slogans coming from Chisinau once again that Moldova is indivisible, that Transnistria is illegal, and that we are separatists. We cannot rule out completely that one fine day Moldova will not decide to restore ‘constitutional order’ in our region”.
Infotag’s dossier: In conformity with an inter-governmental agreement, since March 2006 Transnistrian goods may cross the Ukrainian border only if the export documents have been drawn up officially in Moldova. That decision was taken to restore strict order in external trade and to make Transnistrian exports to European Union member countries easier. For this, official Transnistrian exporters are provided with same privileges as Moldovan ones.
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