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Moscow expects Moldova’s more consistent policy towards Transdniestria after elections

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin says Chisinau violated earlier agrrements when it signed association deal with the EU without consulting the breakaway republic of Transdniestria first
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Metsel
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin
© ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Metsel

TIRASPOL, August 22. /ITAR-TASS/. Moscow expects Moldova’s policy towards its breakaway Transdniestria and towards Russia will be more consistent after the parliamentary elections in autumn, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Friday.

Rogozin reminded reporters about earlier agreements signed with the participation of international guarantors and mediators, in which Chisinau pledged it would be discussing key decisions with Tiraspol.

“However, this did not happen when the association agreement was being signed with the European Union,” Rogozin said after talks with Transdniestrian leader Yevgeny Shevchuk. “The Moldovan authorities did not take into account interests of both banks of the Dniester River. Transdniestria has found itself in a deep economic isolation,” he said.

“Talks are needed now to look for solutions. The interests of one’s own people cannot be ignored. Exercises of some politicians in Chisinau have come to no good,” Rogozin said.

At talks with Rogozin, Moldovan Minister of Economy for his part asked Russia to suspend restrictions on Moldovan imports, pointing to the importance of “maintaining a constructive bilateral dialogue", the ministry said in a report circulated on Friday.

It quoted Rogozin as noting the importance of search for solutions at the level of experts and state institutions to stabilize the situation.

The Russian prime minister also said the interests of economic agents from Transdniestria should be respected, adding that Russia was ready to help organize bilateral talks with Moldovan government officials in Moscow in September.

The Russian embargo, introduced on July 21 - two weeks before Moscow issued a wider ban on western produce - covers imports of Moldovan apples, plums, peaches and canned fruit. Russia also abolished duty-free exemptions for a number of Moldovan products such as meat, vegetables, sugar and wine. According to the government, Moldovan agricultural producers might lose about $150 million under the worst of scenarios.