| Author (Person) | Beatty, Andrew |
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| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.12, No.13, 6.4.06 |
| Publication Date | 06/04/2006 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Andrew Beatty Date: 06/04/06 Diplomats this week strongly rejected allegations that EU-enforced customs rules were causing a humanitarian disaster in the breakaway Moldovan region of Transdniestria. Officials said that claims by Transd-niestrian leader Igor Smirnov and his ally Russia that a "humanitarian catastrophe" was occurring were politically motivated and had no basis in truth. On 3 March Ukraine, backed by EU border monitors, began refusing customs permits issued by the Transdniestrian authorities on goods being exported from Transdniestria, forcing companies to apply for Moldovan permits. Around 100 Transdniestrian companies have so far applied for the permits. According to the Transdniestrian authorities the blockade has cost more than EUR 60 million since 3 March. Despite the delivery of a convoy of Russian humanitarian aid, EU officials said that any shortages were caused by a self-imposed blockade of imports by the Transd-niestrian authorities, a crisis being manufactured ahead of presidential elections which are to take place in December. The latest round of talks to resolve the 16-year standoff between Chisinau and Tiraspol were cancelled this week and Russia has placed a ban on imports of Moldovan wine. According to the Moldovan government's figures, wine exports to Russia account for 80% of total exports, worth an estimated EUR 200m. Georgia, which also has strained ties with Moscow, has been affected by the ban, too. The Russian government said the bans had been put in place following the discovery of potentially dangerous pesticides in some wines. According to Russian newspaper reports, similar measures against EU wine has not been ruled out. A diplomat from the Russian mission to the EU refused to comment. Article reports on a dispute in which the European Union was accused by Russia of enforcing customs rules at the Ukrainian border to the Moldovan breakaway region of Transdniestria allegedly causing a humanitarian disaster. On 3 March 2006 Ukraine had, backed by EU border monitors, begun refusing customs permits issued by the Transdniestrian authorities on goods being exported from Transdniestria, forcing companies to apply for Moldovan permits. EU diplomats strongly rejected the allegations. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Europe, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine |
