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31-01-2005 16:40 Maidan-INFORM
Ukraine Enforces Trade Rules with Moldova

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Cargo for Transdniester delivered via Ukraine must now be covered by appropriate certification from the Moldovan customs agency. Such orders were recently made by the State Customs Service of Ukraine. The order sets conditions for the export of transit cargo intended for Transdniester from Ukrainian territory, with documentation drawn up by the Black Sea Regional Customs Office.

Infotag news agency previously reported that in August 2004, Chisinau prohibited the delivery of imports to and exports from the separatist region of Transdniester without documents issued by Moldova. The Moldovan government then called upon neighbouring countries to support those measures in order to establish order in external trade. However, the Republic of Moldova's appeals were not responded to by either Ukraine or Russia at the time.

Upon election of its new president, the government of Ukraine enforced the trade rules in order to tighten control over transit cargo. The measure applies to goods coming from the Ilyichevsk Sea Port (near Odessa), where Transdniestrian businesses process the majority of the port's cargo. This month, a considerable amount of goods was detained in Ilyichevsk, which were intended for the region's biggest textile producer, Tirotex, KVINT wine and brandy company, and the Sheriff company, which runs the biggest chain of supermarkets and gas stations in Transdniester.

Commenting on enforcement of these trade rules, Transdniestrian deputy minister of industry Yury Ganin said that it was a breach of the Ukrainian customs code and international law. In his opinion, Transdniestrian enterprises which have suffered from the new order have the right to seek justice from international judicial bodies.

He said, however, that Transdniester's export consignments are transported via Ukrainian territory without problems.

Transdniester's Ganin regards Chisinau's demand that Transdniestrian companies be registered with Moldova as unacceptable. "This may lead to [problems] in the region's entire economic structure and, consequently, to a humanitarian catastrophe in Transdniester," he stated. Ganin also opposes deployment of joint Moldovan/Ukrainian posts on the Transdniestrian segment of the border with Ukraine "because this would be in conflict with the Ukrainian Constitution."

[Transdniestria's] deputy minister Garin believes that on the eve of parliamentary elections in Moldova, no fundamental agreements between Chisinau and Kyiv on the Transdniester issue should be implemented.

Source: Infotag

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