Tiraspol, 28 April. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The Pridnestrovian delegation to the JCC has released a communiqué «On unsanctioned flights of foreign aircraft over the Security Zone».
«Due to the fact that the practice of unsanctioned flights of foreign aircraft over the Security Zone, including its Pridnestrovian part, has recently resumed, evidently upon unilateral coordination with Moldova, the Pridnestrovian delegation initiated an emergency meeting of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) in full compliance with the JCC's regulations, which was due on 22 April 2016. However, the Moldovan delegation did not support this initiative and bluntly refused to approve an agenda proposed by the Pridnestrovian side, thus upsetting the emergency meeting, but promising that the issue would be settled anyway. On 27−28 April 2016, however, foreign aircraft again made a series of unsanctioned intrusions from Moldova into the airspace over the Security Zone, despite the fact that Pridnestrovie has given a negative response to Moldova's notification of these flights until this important issue is discussed at a JCC meeting and a concerted decision is made. On 28 April 2016 the Pridnestrovian delegation to the JCC has released the communiqué," underscore JCC officials.
«The Pridnestrovian delegation to the Joint Control Commission notes that on 22 April 2016 the Moldovan delegation to the JCC bluntly refused to participate in an emergency JCC meeting on 'Unsanctioned flights over the Security Zone' initiated by the Pridnestrovie," reads the communiqué.
It is emphasised, at the same time, that on 23 April 2016, at noon, right after the Moldovan delegation upset the emergency meeting of the JCC, an aircraft Diamond DA-42 Twin Star, which took off from the airport of Iasi, Romania, made eight overflights through the Security Zone from east to west in the direction of Ukraine and backward in the area of Delakeu — Krasnaya Gorka — southern outskirts of Grigoriopol — Rybnitsa district. Moldova's peacekeeping commander refused to inform the Joint Military Command (JMC) about the purpose of these flights. He referred to the notification OKK-02 of 9 February 2016 by Moldova's JCC co-chair which he believes contains all information on flight purposes and aircraft involved, as well as to a JCC emergency meeting (which did not take place due to Moldova's non-constructive position) at which this issue was allegedly discussed, and information about flights of special aircraft over the Security Zone was provided.
The delegation recalls that the emergency meeting of the JCC was upset by the Moldovan delegation and the issue has not been resolved in any way. We also draw the JCC's attention to the fact that JCC Protocol No. 35 of 16 October 1992 really charges «the sides (Moldova and Pridnestrovie) to notify the military command about flights of aircraft in the Security Zone (flight time, route or direction, aircraft type and number) to avoid provocations and conflicts».
«Until the conflict is resolved, such activities by foreign aircraft with such specific flight purposes and without being previously agreed on may be regarded as provocative. Moreover, it should be noted that any air accident, which cannot be excluded as an aircraft is undoubtedly a dangerous means of transport, may unintentionally give a pretext for mutual accusations and even cause disastrous consequences in the area of unresolved conflict," say the authors of the communiqué.
«The Pridnestrovian delegation believes that its stance on aircraft activities in the Security Zone fully complies with the basic documents of the peacekeeping operation and, therefore, should be taken into account by members of the Joint Control Commission. In addition, due to an explicit neglect of Pridnestrovie's concerns over unsanctioned flights of foreign aircraft over the Pridnestrovian area in the Security Zone, the Pridnestrovian delegation to the JCC think that ensuring air support to the peacekeeping operation by Russia's helicopter squadron, which is part of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces pursuant to JCC Protocol No. 1 of 28 July 1992, is quite reasonable. Such a decision by the Russian side, which earlier ceased the activities of the JPF's helicopter unit, would comply with the letter and spirit of the 1992 Agreement and would be an additional stabilising factor for maintaining peace in the Dniester region," conclude Tiraspol officials.
