Olga Gukalenko: "Pridnestrovie is a state where human rights are observed"

Member of Parliament Olga Gukalenko ("Renewal"), accomplished human rights activist and recipient of UNESCO grants

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - In early February, Tiraspol plays host to an international human rights conference called “The state's image and human rights protection: reality, challenges, prospects”. The conference, organized by the PMR Parliament, may seem a bit ironic to those who only know the human rights situation of Pridnestrovie through the eyes of Moldovan propaganda. To hear Moldovan sources say it, there are no human right in Pridnestrovie, which is akin to a Stalinist dictatorship rules by an authoritarian regime. But in this interview, a member of Parliament for the largest opposition party, Renewal, explains that this is wrong.

Olga Gukalenko, 50, is a doctor in pedagogy and one of the country's best-known teachers. She is the author of more than 250 scientific works: books, monographs, work-books and methodic books; most of them dealing with modernization and the development of education in Pridnestrovie. She is also the founder of a science institute and under her direction, some 20 theses for a Candidate or Doctor degree were defended.

Several of Olga Gukalenko's books have been translated into other languages, and she is the recipients of UNESCO grants for her work. Olga Gukalenko has also received the honorary title “Excellent educator of Pridnestrovie.”

The first thing on everyone's mind is: Why hold an international human rights conference in Tiraspol? What is the goal? Pridnestrovie, or Transnistria as it is also called, has already acknowledged that it has an image problem when it comes to human rights protection.

Those who only know the current human rights situation from misleading Moldovan propaganda can be forgiven for thinking that the upcoming conference is straight out of "Team America: World Police," the satirical puppet movie where the Film Actors Guild, or F.A.G., cozy up to North Korea's megalomaniacal Kim Jong Il in the name of world peace and an international "peace" conference is held under Kim Jong Il's sponsorship. But as Olga Gukalenko assures us, the conference is a serious attempt to set the record straight and discuss public oversight of human rights protection initiatives. Parliamentarians admit that there is room for improvement in the field of human rights, but also call on the international community to view the situation objectively, without any bias, and free of any double standards.

What is the goal of the PMR Parliament hosting a congress of this nature?

" - I’d like to note that the Parliamentary Presidium enters
a new level of cooperation with parliaments, policymakers, public persons, foreign scientists to promote constructive cooperation in various fields. The problem of unrecognized countries is currently rather acute. The Moldovan-Pridnestrovian conflict needs to be settled in other ways and by mechanisms which members of the 4th elected Parliament are in search for. Parliamentary debate, forums conferences, round-table discussions with foreign guests and experts are held. It is the first high-level conference to be organized by Parliament locally this year.
The conference will deal with five different, but overlapping, themes: Finding ways and mechanism for enhancing the state’s image abroad; Independent public monitoring of human rights and freedoms in sovereign but unrecognized countries; Encouraging public activity and interest in human rights and freedoms protection; Promoting the Pridnestrovian problem at the international level within the framework of international organizations such as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the United Nations, and UNESCO; Positioning of Pridnestrovie as a state where human rights and freedoms are observed. Human rights and basic freedoms must be observed in all states, and that efficient mechanisms to promote world justice without double standards must be introduced."

The conference will include foreign parliamentarians, scientists and independent human rights experts. What can you say about their cooperation?

" - Human rights and freedoms protection must be guaranteed both by the state and at the international level. Today we must include the fact that human rights violations include violations of the rights of our citizens by members of the international community. The solution to these issues will help us find new ways and mechanisms to ensure human rights protection in accordance with principles grounded in humanism and true democracy. The involvement of parliamentarians, scientists and foreign experts in the settlement of issues under debate demonstrates that an independent public opinion about human rights and protection of basic freedoms is being formed in our state. The problem to be discussed within the framework of the conference is polemical. It will be given further consideration at a round-table discussion on human rights in Moscow in late February, and an upcoming summit in Ukraine."

Parliamentary human rights commissions from Russia and Ukraine took part in preparations for the conference. Will the delegation from Moldova participate in the conference?

" - The conference “The state’s image and human rights protection: reality, challenges, prospects” and issues on its agenda are based on the opinion of members of parliamentary human rights commissions. Participation of Moldovan parliamentarians and public persons is of great importance. We set great hopes for the conference, which will open new prospects for fruitful cooperation in various spheres. The plenary meeting, master-classes and round-table discussions are due to be held within the framework of the conference. Parliamentarians, scientists and experts will have a debate on a new conception of human rights and freedoms protection. A mini-monitoring will take place during the conference. The results of the monitoring will show us a real situation with human rights and freedoms protection in Pridnestrovie. The conference will end with approving a resolution addressed to international organizations and to the international community. We want them to take an unbiased and impartial image, and see Pridnestrovie for what it is: A young, sovereign state."

What further actions will Parliament take to protect human rights and basic freedoms, and to form a positive international image of PMR?

" - This conference is arranged within the framework of our internationally oriented parliamentary activities. It is not the first event of its kind. Earlier, parliamentary debates, round-table discussions, conferences as well as a congress took place, both here and abroad, during 2006. The image problem has been already debated in the light of human rights and freedoms protection; it will be developed in future. Another round-table discussion with parliamentarians from Pridnestrovie, Russia, Ukraine and Moldova is scheduled for the end of February. We’ll petition the Supreme Rada of Ukraine for holding a summit on human rights protection with other issues regarding Pridnestrovie to be debated. We want the world community to take notice of Pridnestrovie and understand that we are building a sovereign, democratic state." (With information from vspmr.org)

See also:
» Opposition-controlled parliament appoints new ombudsman for human rights