First 'Pridnestrovie Days' expo premieres abroad

Photos and other exhibits from the 1992 war with Moldova are part of the four day "Pridnestrovie Days" expo

MOSCOW (Tiraspol Times) - With the presence of the Mayor of Moscow, Yuriy Luzhkov, the very first expo "Pridnestrovie Days" kicked into high gear in the Russian capital today.

On Tuesday began the first-ever international "Pridnestrovie Days" ago abroad, a four-day marathon aimed at showing the outside world what Pridnestrovie is all about.

On 22 May, delegations from Pridnestrovie arrived. Some are staying at the Radisson, but the majority are in the traditional Moscow hotels "Youth", "Altai" and "Svetlana".

A tightly packed four-day program (22 to 25 May, 2007) includes political forums, round table events, and scores of different presentations and exhibitions. Pridnestrovie will also present its economic and cultural potential.

Bender's pavilion remembering war

Bender, PMR's second largest city, is putting on a particularly strong show with folk art, dancing and a total of 108 paintings from 45 artists representing the multi-ethnic mix of the city's inhabitants: Intermarried Russians, Moldavans, Ukrainians, Bulgarians and Armenians - but all of them, of course, citizens of the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica.

Bender's Pavilion will play music and songs from Pridnestrovie, and has hourly servings of typical dishes from the region.

The expo also features books by Bender-born authors: "Bender, the pages of history", "The Bender Fortress", "Bender in the Summer of 1992"" and "Days and nights of the Bender tragedy." Many local books deal with the independence war which took place fifteen years ago. On 19 June 1992, Moldovan troops broke the defenses of Bender and briefly took control of the city. The townspeople fought back, and by the time the fighting was over, nearly 500 locals had lost their lives. Almost all of the dead on the Pridnestrovian side were civilians. 130 of them were children, women and the old.

Specifically from Bender, a photo exhibition called "Undeclared War" is on display in event's main exhibition hall complex, where the documentary film "Bender Tragedy" is also being screened.

Here's a look at what else you can expect the next few days:

23 May

The "Pridnestrovie Days" Expo starts in earnest on 23 May 2007 with a ceremony placing wreaths and flowers at the Monument of The Unknown Soldier.

On 23 May, in the conference hall of Hotel Radisson, PMR President Igor Smirnov holds a press conference where he unveils his new book "Together With Russia." The book will be dedicated to Moscow Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov who will be present at the event.

At 11 a.m. takes place the unveiling of the photo exhibit "Bender: Shot at, but unconquered", as well as the first screening of a documentary film "Chronicle of an undeclared war: Bender Tragedy."
(Where: КВЦ «Сокольники», Сокольнический вал, 1)

The photo exhibition "An undeclared war" is also opened.

The photo exhibition "PMR - Steps of history" opens and will last for four days.

The exhibition "Orthodox Pridnestrovie" is opened as well.

Two conferences: "Pridnestrovie: The past, present, future," and - in seminar form - "Investments and markets."
On the same day, a roundtable event takes place under the theme "Modernization of the education system."

Next will be the opening of the exhibition "The cultural capital of Pridnestrovie."

Art gallery show of modern art "The Pridnestrovian Palette."

At 6 p.m., art exhibition from PMR: "My mother, Pridnestrovie"
(Where: Московский театр «Новая опера» имени Е.В. Колобова, Каретный ряд, 3)

Throughout the day, a "musical marathon" takes place with local music and dancers in various parts of the expo.

24 May

Presentation of the PMR banking system.

Exbition of national currency (the PMR Rouble) and postage stamps from PMR.

Roundtable #1: "Protection of human rights in unrecognized states."

Roundatble #2: "Industry and Environment in Pridnestrovie."

The head of PMR's Parliament, Yevgeny Shevchuk, also meets with State Duma parliamentarians on 24 May.

At 7 p.m., a free concert given by Pridnestrovie's dance and folk music troupe "Viorica."
(Where: Московский театр «Новая опера» имени Е.В. Колобова, Каретный ряд, 3)

Also, at 7 p.m., the PMR State Theatre drama and comedy trouple performs.
(Where: Московский «Театр Луны», Б. Козихинский переулок, д. 30)

25 May

Roundtable: "Social aspects of the public health system in Pridnestrovie."

At 4 p.m., authors and local poets meet for "Literary Pridnestrovie", presenting their works and reading poetry.

Concert given by Pridnestrovie's dance and folk music troupe "Viorica."

The day ends with an Awards Ceremony bestowing honors of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
(Where: КВЦ «Сокольники», Сокольнический вал, 1 )

This is the first expo of this kind ever, but it will not be the last, organizers say. Pridnestrovie would like to hold similar presentations in other capitals throughout Europe and is eagerly seeking to establish ties to countries where this could become a possibility in the future.

The unrecognized country, which is better known in English as Transdniester or Transdniestria, is putting its best face forward in a bid to obtain international recognition of its seventeen year old "de facto" independent statehood.

See also:
» Pridnestrovie's cultural ambassadors on tour in China