The Moldovan political milieu is again experiencing anti-Russain agitation. This time Moldova has decided to involve the UN in its scheme by requesting it to put the withdrawal of Russian troops from Pridnestrovie on the agenda of the 72nd session of the General Assembly, which begins on 12 September.
The letter by Moldova's UN permanent representative, which became available for the Russian media, states that the presence of the Russian military «constitutes a threat to international peace and security.»
«This refers to the Operational Group of Russian Forces (OGRF) in Pridnestrovie and arms depots in Kolbasna. Kishinev considers their presence in the region to be illegal and demands the completion of their withdrawal," specify the Moldovan media.
It is not clear why Moldova has begun to focus on OGRF, separating it from the peacekeeping operation. After all, the main goal of the task force is a peacekeeping mission and the protection of arms depots.
«OGRF is a structure which is involved in the rotation of peacekeeping battalions and directly participates in maintaining peace in the Security Zone. So when we speak about peacekeepers, we mean OGRF," said Vitaly Ignatyev.
The diplomat recalled that Moldova's affection for the Russian peacekeepers was especially remarkable this year. The Moldovan parliament adopted a declaration on the withdrawal of Russian troops, which was followed by a similar ruling of the constitutional court and the expulsion from the country of five Russian diplomats, most of whom were Joint Control Commission members. Then the Moldovan side did another couple of queer things: on the eve of the anniversary of the peacekeeping operation in Pridnestrovie, the special representative of the Russian president on Pridnestrovie, Dmitry Rogozin, was first refused entry to Moldova and then declared persona non grata. And now their appeal to the UN General Assembly.
«Of course this kind of demarche against the peacekeeping operation is counterproductive. We believe there are no grounds for changing the format of the peacekeeping operation until a final, comprehensive settlement of the Moldo-Pridnestrovian relationship. This clear-cut position has been repeatedly reaffirmed at the highest level. Seems to me such steps are intended to distract attention from the current pressing issues in our relations with Moldova. Unfortunately, the relationship is deteriorating; there is no trust, and concrete action is needed to normalise the situation rather than create the preconditions for tension," underscored the minister.
Some Moldovan politicians argue that it is necessary «to withdraw Russian troops from Pridnestrovie» as it allegedly might improve the atmosphere between the conflicting parties.
«With regard to the peacekeeping operation, we stress the need to improve and transform its military component into a civilian mission which would allow us […] to successfully overcome the consequences of the conflict, which would bring us closer together rather than divide us by arms or armoured personnel carriers at checkpoints," said the Moldovan chief negotiator, Gheorghe Balan, after yesterday's meeting.
This is a very silly argument, to say the least. On the contrary, it is the arrival of Russian peacekeepers that secured peace in our country, which has been maintained up to now.
According to Vitaly Ignatyev, if Moldova really wants to improve relations with us, the best way to do it is «specific, practical work at each level of the negotiating process aimed at improving the lives of people» rather than undermining the peacekeeping operation.
But in the meantime, Kishinev is actually blocking the negotiating process, which may disrupt «5+2» meetings this year. And this is an alarming signal.
