Tiraspol, 25 July. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. Moldova is continuing to systematically discredit the Russian presence in the region, which is inadmissible and may lead to an escalation of the conflict, Pridnestrovian President Vadim Krasnoselsky commented on the recently adopted declaration of the Moldovan parliament on the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers.
As we have reported, on 21 July, the 25th anniversary of the agreement on the peaceful settlement of the armed conflict, the Moldovan parliament approved a declaration on the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping contingent from the country. The document also calls on international organisations and mediators in negotiations on the Moldo-Pridnestrovian settlement «to initiate political discussions on the transformation of the peace operation into a civilian mission under an international mandate.»
Earlier, Moldova's Constitutional Court equated the Russian servicemen in the region to occupying forces. A number of Russian diplomats, including Russia's air attaché in Moldova, were expelled from the country.
The president compared such decisions by the Moldovan authorities with playing with fire in a powder cellar.
«Year after year, Moldovan politicians have traditionally declared their desire to banish away the Russian contingent from here. This includes both the Constitution Court's decision and the recently adopted decision of the Moldovan parliament. It is alarming and leads, at least, to an escalation of the conflict. Replacing the peacekeepers, removing the Russian presence is the path to war. This is unacceptable. Some Moldovan politicians can be compared with fire jongleurs in a powder cellar. This is very dangerous. That is why we traditionally call for a negotiating process and the avoidance of any unilateral actions the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic," noted the president.
Krasnoselsky underscored that in such circumstances and with such decisions by the Moldovan authorities, no rapprochement could be discussed. On the contrary, everything shows «we are going absolutely different ways: some are going west, and some are going east to Russia.»
The head of state also noted that in 25 years the peacekeeping mission had proved successful and efficient — not a single citizen had been killed as a result of fighting. Peace had been prevailing in Pridnestrovie thanks to defenders and peacekeepers, and this peace should be preserved.
«The uniqueness of the operation is that not only Russian peacekeepers are involved in it but also Pridnestrovian and Moldovan servicemen — the former warring parties. This is a good example for others, and this experience needs to be adopted and shared rather than ceased and banished. Not a single Russian soldier will be withdrawn from here without the will of the Pridnestrovian people, no matter what individual politicians might want," said the president.'
On 29 July, Pridnestrovie will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the peacekeeping operation in Pridnestrovie. President Krasnoselsky has invited Moldovan President Igor Dodon and Russia's vice premier Dmitry Rogozin to take part in the holiday. There are plans to conduct a round of talks to discuss «sore problems», Krasnoselsky said.
«And what are sore problems? Those that are not solved. It is the politicization of issues. I have repeatedly said: 'Let's put aside politics and proceed to the issues that are important to people — humanitarian, economic, cultural, and so on. We are constructive and are going forward, and against this background, we only see the establishment of posts," noted the president.
