Ukraine does not change its decision regarding the new customs regime for Transnistrain exporters – Ukrainian ambassador in Chisinau

The rumours according to which, after parliamentary elections, Ukraine will change its decision regarding the new customs regime at Moldovan-Ukraine do not correspond to reality. The guarantor of the adopted position as the guarantor of the Ukraine’s Constitution in whole is the president of the country. The ambassador of Ukraine in Chisinau, Piotr Cealai, announced about this on Thursday during the press conference with the occasion of parliamentary elections in Ukraine. According to him, there will be open in Moldova voting sections. One will be placed in the headquarters of the consulate of Ukraine in Balti, where the Ukrainian citizens of the north of republic will be able to vote, including certain places of Transnistrian region. The second voting section will be within the Embassy of Ukraine in Chisinau, where the Ukrainians of the centre and the south of republic will be able to vote. Ukrainian diplomat mentioned that at last presidential elections there were opened many voting sections than last year. Cealai explained the situation through the fact that the legislation in force of Ukraine supposes opening of voting sections abroad only in the headquarters of the embassy, representative, or mission. He denied the rumours that reduction of the number of voting sections would represent a revenge regarding the population of Transnistria, as at the presidential elections they did not vote „as they should”. „Such decisions are not taken by the president, but the Supreme Rada, which not always supports the president,” Ukrainian ambassador mentioned. Asked to comment the statements of the Russian ambassador in Chisinau, Nikolai Reabov, Cealai that they have met recently and asked him if his declarations are a personal opinion or official one. Reabov did not give a direct reply, limiting to usual formula the ambassador represents the official position. In opinion of Piotr Cealai, Reabov’s proposal regarding the includsion of the problem regarding the registration of Transnistrian businessmen and cross-border regulations at Moldovan-Ukrainian border in the agenda of the negotiation format „5+2” is a nonsense. „According to norms of international law, the order at the border of the country is included in the internal right, but as well of the responsibility of every state a part. There can be discussed aspects as providing assistance, but Ukraine and Moldova took already the decision. The Ukrainian part is ready to hear the advices of all parts, but in the end it takes the decision,” the ambassador mentioned. Piotr Cealai could not say the exact number of Ukrainian citizens living in Moldova or the number of persons with right to vote, mentioning that the list of electors shall be specified. About 17,000 Ukrainian citizens living in Moldova participated in presidential elections of Ukraine. Ukrainian parliamentary elections are held on 26 March 2006.