Tiraspol, December 1. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR Vitaly Ignatiev commented on the statements of the elected President of Moldova Maia Sandu on the necessity to transform the peacekeeping operation and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Pridnestrovie. He noted, that the politicians of Moldova have made such statements repeatedly, and explained why it has been impossible at the moment.
In Pridnestrovie, the peacekeeping operation is the guarantor of peace, as well as an element, that gives grounds to conduct the negotiation process peacefully, Vitaly Ignatiev noted.
“The peacekeeping operation for 28 years has shown its effectiveness and high stability. In the basic agreement, which was signed on July 21, 1992, there are no elements about transforming the peacekeeping operation, changing its format, or a civil observer mission under the auspices of the OSCE. Either the 1992 agreement is being implemented and peace and security rule over both banks of the Dniester, or one of the parties to this agreement leaves it. And then, of course, the situation returns to the moment of beginning the conflict,” Vitaly Ignatiev said in an interview with the Russia 24 TV channel.
The diplomat noted, that the peacekeeping operation couldn’t be transformed until the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian conflict was finally settled. Vitaly Ignatiev also stressed, that this position was indicated by all international participants.
“I would like to remind some, maybe Moldovan colleagues too, who have forgotten. There is a joint statement by the President of Moldova for Pridnestrovie and the Russian Federation in 2009, which clearly states, that the transformation of the peacekeeping operation is possible following the settlement of the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian conflict. Therefore, until we reach a political consensus, until we finally find a comprehensive form of settlement, it is impossible to say about transforming the peacekeeping operation to some extent,” Vitaly Ignatiev emphasized.
Currently, there are no preconditions for somehow dealing with the uninstallation of the peacekeeping operation, the head of the foreign policy department emphasized.
“Unfortunately, the conflict is open. On the regulation track, our dynamics are very negative. Stagnation has been observed in the negotiation process in recent years. The agreements, that we reached in 2016-2018 with Moldova has not been respected by the Moldovan side. Therefore, today, there is no reason to say, that the peacekeeping operation has exhausted itself and can somehow be transformed,” the PMR Minister of Foreign Affairs said.
We remind, that Moldovan President-elect Maia Sandu has repeatedly stated the necessity to withdraw Russian peacekeepers from Pridnestrovie and change the peacekeeping format to a civilian mission.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation noted, that the statements of Maia Sandu on the peacekeepers are aimed at undermining the efforts for a peaceful settlement of the Moldovan-Pridnestrovian conflict.
It should be reminded, that in July 1992 Russia stopped the armed aggression of Moldova against Pridnestrovie. Previously, several conciliated commissions, including those with the participation of international representatives, tried to stop the war on the Dniester. The bloodshed stopped only with the arrival of the Russian peacekeepers.
The peacekeeping operation under the auspices of the Russian Federation has been implemented in Pridnestrovie since 1992 on the basis of interstate agreements. In addition to the Russian Federation, the parties to the conflict: PMR and RM as well as a group of military observers from Ukraine take part in it.
The Russian peacekeeping contingent is formed from the Operational Group of Russian Forces in Pridnestrovie.
The Russian peacekeeping operation in Pridnestrovie is considered one of the most successful in history: since 1992, hostilities have not been resumed.
