Bendery, 22 September. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The topic of military exercises in the immediate vicinity of and in the Security Zone was raised today during a regular meeting of the Joint Control Commission (JCC). It should be recalled that Moldova has recently launched regular drills at the Bulboaca training ground with the involvement of NATO troops. Pridnestrovie also conducts military exercises.
The delegations expressed certain concern over the situation. Tiraspol representatives underscore that these matters should be under the JCC's control.
«These matters should be to any extent under the JCC's control. We understand these are military units. Of course, the JCC must handle the situation and make certain decisions," said Pridnestrovie's co-chair to the JCC, Oleg Belyakov.
The Pridnestrovian delegation proposed to consider all these aspects as a separate issue and make a decision on it.
The Pridnestrovian side has also released a statement today urging the Moldovan colleagues to resume the practice of holding the military exercises of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces (JPF).
«We say there is such an element as unit cohesiveness. In order for the JPF to be a single body capable of handling any situation which may lead to escalation, the units must act cohesively," said Belyakov.
He noted that Moldova had not given any positive signal on this issue so far.
The last joint exercises of the peacekeepers were conducted two and a half years ago.
