Uncertain MPs look to Russia for aid

A worried Yevgeny Shevchuk, Speaker of PMR's parliament, is crunching the numbers and unsure if his country will get any help

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - For nearly six months, no financial aid has arrived from Russia. With exports hurt by new customs regulations put in place by neighboring Moldova and Ukraine last year, local tax revenues are down and the money is running out.

Pridnestrovie - which is better known abroad as Transdniester, or Transnistria (its Romanian name) - has gotten no answer from Russia on an earlier appeal for help, and is now trying again.

In early April, Pridnestrovie's parliament addressed an emergency message to its counterparts in Russia, asking for financial aid. But after nearly six weeks of waiting, and with no promise of funds, no one in the unrecognized country can be sure of what the future will hold.

Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, is itself strapped for cash and does not provide any funding to what it sees as an enemy-government on the other side of the Dniester river. This despite the fact that nearly 32% of Pridnestrovie's population are ethnic Moldovans.

Ukraine, mired in political uncertainty at home, is also not willing to help. It is mainly known in Pridnestrovie for having instigated what locals here see as an "economic blockade", blocking the border for legitimate exports unless accompanied with Moldovan customs forms. The move - in place since March 2006 - has so far only provoked 15 months of economic hardship for the local population, and increased bitterness towards Ukraine. 29% of the local population are ethnic Ukrainians who now, like the rest, only look to Russia for help.

But Russia is not helping either. Despite an inflow of emergency cash last year, the funds have not been renewed for 2007. Nearly a third of Pridnestrovie's inhabitants are Russians. Now, a group of Members of Parliament - led by Speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk - are launching a new, direct appeal.

Shevchuk: "Oversight mechanism to ensure transparency"

" - As for the appeal to the Russian Federation, according to our information, more 300,000 Russian citizens live in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Pridnestrovie. Almost all of them are in difficult economic situation. Under Russia's Constitution, all Russian citizens shall enjoy equal rights irrespective of place of their residence," says Yevgeny Shevchuk, Pridnestrovie's 38 year old Speaker of Parliament.

" - So it was decided to appeal the relevant government departments on behalf of three republics to implement Russian national schemes, in particular, in the field of education and national health in three republics. These are priorities so we’d like to have an opportunity to implement them in Pridnestrovie.
It’s clear that enough funds are required for implementation of any scheme, including reforms in the system of national health; but our three republics lack funds. So it’s of great importance for us that deputy Chairman of the Council of Federation of Russia, members of the RF Presidential Executive office were present when we submitted a letter of appeal and they assured us that they would notify the relevant departments and will facilitate decision-making as soon as possible. It’s of paramount importance, especially the maternity capital. It’s a vital problem in three republics. People are leaving the country to find stable jobs and salaries. So we have serious demographic and migration problems. We hope the situation will improve if national schemes are launched," said Shevchuk.

In return for aid, Pridnestrovie plans to become more open and transparent, says the Speaker.

" - If approved, we proposed to work out a parliamentary oversight mechanism to ensure transparency in spending financial resources for humanitarian purposes."

See also:
» Pridnestrovie's parliament seeks foreign aid for budget shortfall
» Building a viable state, budget decifit cut in half says Speaker of Parliament