The commercial restrictions imposed by Russia, the diversification of the export markets for Moldova and Ukraine, the geopolitical situation in the two countries and the Transnistrian dispute were discussed in a radio duplex Chisinau-Kiev, broadcast by the public radio station Radio Moldova on August 8, IPN reports.
The head of the Committee of Economists of Ukraine Andrei Novak said the sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the EU on Russia on the export of particular categories of goods to this country have only half of the pursued effect as these goods can reach Russia through the agency of ex-Soviet states.
According to Novak, if Moldova, folowing the bans imposed by Russia, faces short-term problems, the loss of the Russian market for Ukraine is a medium- and long-term problem as the restrictions also refer to industrial products that are not competitive on the EU market and export markets are to be identified in poorely developed Asian states or on the African continent.
As regards the Moldovan products, Novak said the Ukrainian market is open and, after the separation of Crimea, Ukraine became an opportunity for the Moldovan wines that could replace the Crimean wines.
As to the political context, the Ukrainian expert said that after Russia lost its credibility of partner before most of the ex-Soviet states, Ukraine could become a pro-European political center in this area, while GUAM could be rehabilitated if another organization where Ukraine will play a central part is not created.
Political analyst Oazu Nantoi, program director at the Chisinau Public Policy Institute, said the bans imposed by Russia are not a novelty for Moldova, the problem dating from 2006, when former Communist President Vladimir Voronin declared himself pro-European. Russia's sanctions will intensify in autumn, before the parliamentary elections, as Russia pursues the goal of hampering the pro-European parties from coming to power.
As regards the Transnistrian problem, Nantoi said the separatist Transnistrian regime is facing a serious crisis as almost half of the residents there are pensioners, the budget deficit represents 70%, while the miserable salaries of budget-funded employees are to be cut by at least 15%. Most of the Transnistrian economic entities are registered in Chisinau and export 70% of their products to the EU, while exports to Russia represent at most 20%.
Moldovan economic expert Viorel Chivriga in the same program said that though we are going through a difficult period and the Moldovan producers sustain great losses, the people started to realize that quality is important and that new markets must be penetrated. Russia does not want the former Soviet states to prosper. "I would like to ask the Russian politicians why they don't want Moldova to solve the problems faced during many years, such as corruption and the defficiencies faced in the development of the market economy," Viorel Chivriga.
