In the course of a diplomatic meeting in Moscow the foreign ministers of Russia and Moldova, Sergey Lavrov and Andrei Galbur, exchanged views on further prospects of the peacekeeping operation in Pridnestrovie.
According to the Russian minister, the peacekeeping operation is efficient as it maintains peace in the region.
«I am sure that one should respect the role of the peacekeeping operation, which is one of the most efficient as there have been no incidents or clashes since the very launch of this operation," said Sergey Lavrov at a news conference.
The whole process of political settlement is our common cause and this is what the work of the 5+2 format will aim at, or at least our part in it. Both the activity of the peacekeeping operation and our own part in securing weapons depots, which have remained in Pridnestrovie since Soviet times," he added.
The foreign minister of Moldova, Adrei Galbur, is sure that the present peacekeeping format needs transforming.
«Moldova's principled position on the need for the removal or possible utilisation of ammunition, withdrawal of troops and transformation of the peacekeeping operation into an international civilian mission has not changed and, I believe, is well known," said Galbur.
«Our common mood is to try to build up dialogue regardless of differences in our positions," he noted, adding that «the Republic of Moldova must not serve as a field for geopolitical battles.»
However, unlike the Moldovan diplomat, the success of the current peacekeeping format is also recognised by the OSCE. American diplomat Jennifer Brush, who used to be head of the OSCE Mission in Kishinev, told Radio Free Europe that the Russian-led peacekeeping mission in the PMR has no adequate alternative. «I am not sure that an international civilian mission will create better conditions than do the Russian peacekeepers," said Brush.
