Transdniestria appeals to Russia for drought relief

Farm losses caused by this year's drought in Pridnestrovie are estimated at between $40 and $45 million USD. (File photo)

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - Pridnestrovie's Supreme Council - its parliament - adopted a resolution addressed to Russia's Duma with a request for financial assistance to help overcome social problems and lower living standards caused by this year's devastating drought.

Unfavorable climatic conditions in spring and summer 2007 affected Pridnestrovie, Moldova and southern Ukraine. The drought is the worst in more than fifty years, and as a result Pridnestrovie’s agricultural sector suffered huge losses in crops.

" - Due to this summer's severe drought, almost the entire agricultural sector in Pridnestrovie has suffered great losses," the statement reads.

Pridnestrovie, which is also known under informal names such as Transnistria or Transdniester, is inhabited by a majority Slavic population of mainly Russian-speakers. Just under a third are ethnic Russians, but only 100,000 out of a population of 550,000 hold Russian citizenships.

Other appeals to US, EU

Given the difficult socio-economic situation of Pridnestrovie, as well as the fact that more than 100,000 Russian citizens live here, it is only natural for such a request to be made to Russia, argue members of the PMR Parliament. In the near future it is expected that similar appeals for help will be sent to representatives of both the United States and the European Union, as participants in the process of status settlement vis-a-vis Moldova and Pridnestrovie.

" - The financial situation of agricultural companies worsened badly, threatening food security of the republic and provision of raw materials for the industry," explains Parliament in its statement. "These negative factors caused a critical situation in the agro-industrial sector of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. 57,400 hectares of the area under crops or 36,4% of the republic’s cultivated lands were affected. Agricultural producers lost $40 million USD."

Ruined crops cover 57.4 thousand hectares or land, or 36.4% of the total farmland in the unrecognized country. Farmers estimate their losses at between $40 and $45 million USD.

The lower production, as a consequence of the drought, resulted in a loss of income for both the republican and local municipal budgets and off-budget funds. It also caused a sharp increase in prices for foodstuffs and worsened living standards for everyone in Pridnestrovie.

The Parliamentary press service reports that Pridnestrovie's government is already seeking internal reserves to smooth over the negative effects of the drought, to support the agro-industrial sector and to ensure the food security of the unrecognized country. Its appeal to Russia ends with a plea for money: "Considering the difficult social and economic situation in the republic and the fact that about 100,000 Russian citizens live in Pridnestrovie, Pridnestrovie's Parliament appeals to Russia's Parliament for financial aid."

Russia supports Moldova, but not Pridnestrovie

In a response to Moldovan appeals for drought relief, Russia will grant more than 6 million dollars of aid to Moldova. Humanitarian assistance includes food and grains worth 157 million Russian roubles (approximately $6,3 million USD). In the field of food security, a total of 14,000 tons of grain is about to be shipped from Russia to Moldova. None of this aid will be shared with Pridnestrovie, and Pridnestrovie has not yet received any answers to its appeals to Russia for financial assistance to overcome to suffering caused by the drought conditions.

The drought has affected much of both the territory of Moldova and also the territory of Pridnestrovie, in addition to parts of southern Ukraine. According to Moldovan government estimates, losses to Moldova exceeded $1 billion US dollars.

Apart from Russian, the European Union has also committed itself to helping Moldova cope with the consequences of this year's drought. Brussels allocated 40 million Euros to Moldova, and individual member countries are stepping in with additional sums. In the past week, Poland gave $375,000 to Moldova in drought relief. None of this money will be shared with Pridnestrovie. As an unrecognized country, Pridnestrovie has limited access to the international financial system and is unable to obtain aid or loan guarantees of the kind that Moldova routinely avails itself of.

For part of 2006, Pridnestrovie received financial aid from Russia. The aid began after Moldova initiated an economic blockade of Pridnestrovie in March 2006 and ended by the end of that year, even though Moldova's blockade is currently still in place. Since the first of January 2007, Russia has not provided any financial aid to Pridnestrovie and the small state has had to cut back on a number of budget items in order to survive on its own.

See also:
» Uncertain MPs look to Russia for aid
» No more Russian aid for Trans-Dniester
» Pridnestrovie's parliament seeks foreign aid for budget shortfall