​TRANSNISTRIA COUNTS ON FURTHER INTER-PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA

A parliamentary delegation of the new supreme soviet of the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan Republic (PMR) is preparing for their first foreign visit – to Moscow. The would-be event and related issues were discussed between the supreme soviet leadership and the Russian Federation’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Moldova, Farit Muhametshin, here last Friday.

The diplomat said Transnistrian lawmakers are welcome for a visit to Moscow on February 17-18, and the Russian side is preparing for it. The guests will be received by Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Committee for Foreign Affairs at Russia’s Council of the Federation [the upper chamber of the country’s bicameral legislature], by Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs/State Secretary Grigory Karasin, and by a number of Russian State Duma deputies and politicians.

Supreme soviet speaker Vadim Krasnoselsky said to journalists in Tiraspol that in the meeting with Ambassador Muhametshin the sides discussed the situation developing in the PMR and around it, Moldova’s actions with respect to Transnistrians, in particular the unfounded detention and thorough searches of them on the border, the illicit starting of criminal litigations against Transnistrian officials and people of business etc.

While in Tiraspol, Ambassador Muhametshin was received also by new prime minister of Transnistria Pavel Prokudin, who called the Russian Embassy in Chisinau “a bridge between the peoples of Russia and Transnistria, who have been linked inseparably by a common history and traditional values”.

Premier Prokudin stated that Russia will undoubtedly withstand the current economic crisis and will come out of it with positions and might stronger than now.

“The Russian Federation is a key player in the current multi-polar world supporting its balance. The people of Transnistria believe in the potential and brilliant future of great Russia”, stressed Pavel Prokudin.

Farit Muhametshin informed him about various events, meetings and visits Russian representatives are planning for year 2016.

“I am contented with today’s meeting. We devoted much time to discussing future projects. I am happy that we have been on a right track. We shall continue our assistance to Transnistria”, said the diplomat.

Ambassador Muhametshin took part in a solemn ceremony on handing in certificates for receiving 40 new computers for local schools. The project has been realized for funding provided by the Moscow City Government on the request of Russian communities of Transnistria.

“Assistance in the education sphere is one of the important-most directions of cooperation between Russia and Transnistria. Last September, we provided textbooks for Transnistrian schools. That was the assistance rendered by the Russian Federal Government though the textbooks were printed in Tiraspol. Currently, your schoolchildren have the possibility to study by using Russian educational programs. Now we are speaking of broadening the cooperation program – of providing computers and of creating computer classes. We are considering possibilities of implementing, within 1.5-2 years, a project of full equipment of all schools in Transnistria with computer classes”, said Farit Muhametshin.