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The chairman of Pridnestrovie's legislature, Yevgeny Shevchuk, says it is important to maintain an open dialogue with neighbors

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - Speaking to the press about the political prospects for the current year, Pridnestrovie's Parliamentary Speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk, said that he views the outlook for 2008 as cautiously positive for the unrecognized country. He also announced that this year, Parliament plans to step up its international contacts.

" - We think that we should maintain contacts with Ukraine’s and Moldova’s government in any case; it doesn’t depend on who is in power or what political forces are represented in government, anyway, we should create environment for normalization of relations," Shevchuk says. "Normal constructive relations between governments may and will ensure free movement of goods and nationals of Ukraine, Moldova and Pridnestrovie. We strive to promote mutually profitable and acceptable relations with neighboring states. They are our neighbors and we should agree on the terms of living with them."

In Yevgeny Shevchuk's view, the country managed to maintain domestic political stability in the past year, even though opinions differ in society and there are different political forces. Shevchuk believes that Pridnestrovie (which is also known under informal names such as Transnistria or Trans-Dniester) has now reached a level of political dialogue and plurality of opinions that surpasses that of some former CIS and European Union member states.

Shevchuk, 39, leads the new and emerging country's Parliament and is also head of its largest party, Renewal, which obtained a majority of the seats in the legislature in 2005 despite its stated opposition to parties supporting the country's President, Igor Smirnov.

How do you see 2007 in terms of progress for Pridnestrovie's people?

" - In 2007 Parliament held 27 meetings and discussed about 616 matters. The previously elected Parliament gave consideration to 453 matters, 129 acts passed by Parliament were signed by the President. This year 230 bills have already been signed into laws, 21 bills have been submitted for signing. It proves that Parliament’s intensive work produced good results. The bills are mostly aimed at solving the problems facing the economic actors. Parliament finds solutions in the shortest possible term and the solutions found in 2007 helped to stabilize the situation and to resolve main economic problems. In 2007 we were looking for solutions to provide extra funds and we had arrears in salaries in April and there was a threat to pension-provision. In 2007, in April, the republican budget law was amended, the Stabilization fund was set up and other decisions were made. We paid pensions regularly in spring and summer.

In recent months Parliament passed emergency legislation initiated by the President to raise funds for the municipal and republican budgets. I think Parliament’s work was rather effective; its decisions were aimed at solving problems facing our citizens.

In 2007 Parliament also focused on international activities. International affairs fall within the remit of the Parliamentary commission for international contacts and the Special Parliament’s Envoy for interparliamentary relations. Our aim is to promote a dialogue with our partners, first of all, with members of parliaments of guarantor states – Ukraine and the Russian Federation, with members of international organizations visiting Parliament and having contacts with members of Pridnestrovie’s Parliament. It allows to make our voice heard by the international community. I’d like to mention positive and constructive contacts that we have with the State Duma of the Russian Federation. A group of deputies supported us and petitioned the Government of the Russian Federation for humanitarian aid. I think that serious work of Pridnestrovie’s Parliament deserves to be called productive.

I think that international missions in Moldova intensified contacts with Pridnestrovie; they now visit Pridnestrovie more regularly and have regular meetings with members of Pridnestrovie’s Parliament. Despite hot discussions the members of Parliament had a chance to make their voice and the will of people of Pridnestrovie heard, to express their views.

In 2007, in my opinion, we managed to balance the public and political situation in the republic though the opinions differ in society and there are different political forces. We avoided confrontation. We may thank our citizens who understand that stability is required for further progress of Pridnestrovie. I may call the 2007 political situation to be rather stable.

It proves that political forces realize responsibility before the citizens and members. I hope the political forces won’t change their position in 2008.

Of course, there’s certain disagreement in making decisions; the public and political forces express their views openly. There’s sometimes heated discussions in Parliament and I think it facilitates finding the best possible solutions to any given issue. As the saying goes, truth is sprout in discussion. I think that the constructive dialogue with the executive government and other political forces, the criticism of our actions and actions of other government agencies allows to solve legislative problems and to attract less criticism of the political system of Pridnestrovie. There’s a political dialogue and plurality of opinions that not all CIS and even European states can boast of. In my opinion, Pridnestrovie now attracts little criticism even in the foreign media. It’s the result of efforts of the government - legislative, executive and judicial authorities, who created such a mechanism of discussion within the state with the aim to find solutions to the problems facing our people. The political factors had a negative impact on the situation in 2007, first of all the new procedures on the Pridnestrovian-Ukrainian border that hampered foreign trade of Pridnestrovie’s economic actors. Of course, it affects our economic potential and opportunities. In this difficult situation we coped with our key task – we provided social funding. It was rather difficult in this situation. I think our systematic work that sometimes turned into hot debates outside the Parliament produced positive results.

Such as?

" - I’d like to say that 2007 positive shifts will have a beneficial impact on the 2008 situation. Of course, many people and different political forces criticize these decisions, there are different views. I want to dwell on 2007 positive moments. We managed to cut the budget deficit and to attract extra receipts to the consolidated budget and the Pension Fund – about 50 million dollars. Though the 9% foreign trade turnover is expected, the revenues of the consolidated budget are likely to increase by 23%. The tax burden was increased, the tax legislation saw changes. It will bring more receipts to the budget. It’s the preliminary results of the work of Parliament in 2007. I’d like to thank all persons entitled to initiate laws, to citizens who submitted their proposals to Parliament. We took your proposals into account while making our decisions."

Why does the President not support the 2008 budget passed by Parliament?

" - You know about disagreement during 2008 budget debates. The budget was drafted by the executive government and then was submitted to Parliament for approval. There’s a certain legislative procedure for the budget consideration prescribed by law. There’s nothing terrible if the President deems it necessary to veto some provisions of the budget law – it is stipulated by legislation. It is within his competence and powers. I think it’s rather positive since Parliament as the supreme legislative body is entitled to consider matters and to make decisions. A Member of Parliament is entitled to move motions to be discussed by Parliament. There’s a plurality in Parliament and in the republic. And Parliament will discuss it in accordance with legislation and then will agree or disagree with the President. In accordance with legislation the Constitutional court may settle the dispute and may issue statements on constitutionality or non-constitutionality. If Parliament’s or other government department’s opinion will be met with greater tolerance, the Constitutional court will have an opportunity to work efficiently and to consider petitions, I think that the legal principles mentioned in the Constitution must be observed without showing too much emotion.

We suppose we are in disagreement about cuts in executive government spending. Our aim was not to hurt anybody; we made a decision having regard to the earlier approved budget and tax policy, under which we didn’t even raise salaries of the budget sector workers in this critical economic situation though the salaries of some categories of people are below the minimum living wage. Members of Parliament decided to not allocate more money due to the increased number of government employees as they deemed it unwise. The Constitutional court will decide whether it is right or wrong, and time will show who is right.

I believe that the budget’s key aim is to fulfill its functions. The funds should be allocated wisely to stimulate certain economic processes in the republic. The budget was adopted on time and it was submitted to the President for consideration and approval on December 25.

It’s important that most of the budget provisions have been agreed to. The republic enters the New Year with the approved budget and main economic indicators. It’s the state’s plan for the next financial year. All government branches must be aimed at implementation of this financial plan."

Moldova is banning border crossings by Pridnestrovie-registered cars. What is Ukraine's position?

" - I’d like to sketch out the situation. Under Pridnestrovie’s legislation customs clearance duties for vehicles are much lower than in Ukraine or the Republic of Moldova. Of course, enterprising people make money; they leave Pridnestrovie to reside in Ukraine or Moldova. So there’s information and I think you heard about it that some people make money by exporting vehicles. Of course, Ukraine’s concern is growing; it tries to protect its budget like any other state. The difference in tariffs is one of the arguments of the Moldovan party that tries to establish another registration procedure for Pridnestrovie- registered cars. Their argument is that Moldova’s and Ukraine’s budgets are suffering losses due to low Pridnestrovie’s customs duties.

What can I say? Duties and taxes imposed on our citizens must be lower because we have no choice since we are in a more critical situation than any other state is. We collect low customs clearance duties to ensure free movement of people so that they could buy cars and could go anywhere they want to. The republican budget law as amended offers certain protection - the decision was made to raise customs duties for the cars that have been registered in PMR for less than two years. Tariffs will be growing and I think now there are no arguments to change the registration procedure for Pridnestrovie-registered vehicles.

In relation to Ukraine’s position, as far as I know, there will be no changes to the border-crossing procedures for cars registered in Pridnestrovie. Time will show how the situation may change in the future. I think the decision of the Ukrainian government is right, pragmatic and progressive. We live in the 21st century and I think it is not a decent action to move proposals restricting free movement on nationals of any state. If people are not criminals and are not on the international wanted list, they have the right to free movement. A great number of international documents are based on this principle and I think that good sense will triumph in 2008 and the current scheme won’t see changes. I won’t remind you of the earlier signed agreements [with Moldova] as I’ve already mentioned them for many times."

Do you plan to establish contacts with the Supreme Rada of Ukraine? Or the Parliament of Moldova?

" - In relation to our ties with Ukraine’s Supreme Rada, of course, we’ll intensify our contacts with our colleagues form the Supreme Rada and we’ll strive for cooperation in many areas when the structure of Ukraine’s Parliament is finally approved. We think that we should maintain contacts with Ukraine’s and Moldova’s government in any case; it doesn’t depend on who is in power or what political forces are represented in government, anyway, we should create environment for normalization of relations. Normal constructive relations between governments may and will ensure free movement of goods and nationals of Ukraine, Moldova and Pridnestrovie. We strive to promote mutually profitable and acceptable relations with neighboring states. They are our neighbors and we should agree on the terms of living with them. Parliament follows this course in its international contacts and will continue the same work in 2008." (With information from vspmr.org)

See also:
» Yevgeny Shevchuk: "We want to treat each other with respect" [1]
» Yevgeny Shevchuk: "We will work for more and more democratization" [2]
» Yevgeny Shevchuk: "Democracy means respecting the majority will of the people" [3]