Commentary of the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in connection with sending of Russian humanitarian cargo to the Transniestria

On March 21, 2006 the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ukraine made a request to assist in duty-free and priority registration of a motorcade (24 cars) with so called humanitarian assistance (foodstuffs and medications) to the Transniestrian region of the Republic of Moldova rendered by the government of Moscow, the Moscow Region and the party “Unitary Russia” in connection with a kind of severe social and economical situation in the Transniestria.

It is scheduled that the mentioned cargo will cross the Ukrainian – Russian frontier on March 23, 2006, at 08:00 p.m., and the Ukrainian – Moldavian one in the morning on March 24, 2006, at the frontier point “Platonovo”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informed the Russian side of readiness to render necessary assistance.

Simultaneously the route of the motorcade which the Russian side desired to move by at least amazes. The chosen route which would go through the frontier point at the Ukrainian – Russian frontier “Goptivka” (Khatkiv Region) and such large cities of Ukraine as Kharkiv, Poltava, Kremenchuk, Kirovograd is not a traditional one for transit of Russian cargoes by the territory of Ukraine. The most convenient and essentially shorter route for cargoes from Russia goes through the frontier point “Bachivsk” (Sumy Region).

The Ukrainian side also considers that today as previously there are no reasons to say about any humanitarian catastrophe or a social and economical crisis in the Transniestrian region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasized repeatedly that the complicated situation at the Ukrainian – Moldavian frontier arose as a result of irresponsible actions of the Transniestrian administration aimed at self isolation of the Transniestrian region.

Attention should be paid to the fact that since January 1, 2006, about 30 thousand tons of living essentials have been exported to the Transniestria; first of all there were foodstuffs. In particular 12.6 thousand tons of foodstuffs and 17 tons of medications have arrived to the Transniestria.

Since March 16, 2006, when the Transniestrian side stopped blockading importation of cargoes to the Transniestria, 256 trucks with foodstuffs, confectionery and alcohols entered the region although the Transniestria produces the said goods on its own. Only within March 16 – 20, 2006 1387 tons of poultry (more than 2 kg per each resident of the region) were brought to the Transniestria.

Delivery of the said so called humanitarian cargo by the Russian side gives grounds to say about intention of some political circles of the Russian Federation to continue politicization of the situation about the customs procedure at the Ukrainian – Moldavian frontier, to conduct wittingly a propagandistic action the purpose of which is to mislead the compatriots and to support the separative forces of the Transniestria by means of jobbery and to influence on the political disposition of Ukrainian citizens on the eve of the elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The fact that the foreign policy office of Russia did not adjust the question of forwarding so called humanitarian aid to the region with the official authorities of the Republic of Moldova attracts attention as well.