If Moldova puts on the UN's agenda the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the PMR, Russia could raise the question of Pridnestrovie's recognition. President Krasnoselsky said that to Russia's Parliamentary Gazette, commenting on Moldova's appeal to the UN with the request to put the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Pridnestrovie on the agenda of the 72nd session of the General Assembly.
«Russia is not only a powerful and strong state. Russia is a guarantor of the settlement and a guarantor of the '5+2' negotiating format. In fact, Russia could represent the interests of Pridnestrovie in the UN. And if Moldova puts the question of the withdrawal of Russian troops in the UN, why not request the UN, under current circumstances, to discuss the recognition of Pridnestrovie?» asks Krasnoselsky.
The president recalled that the peacekeeping contingent had begun to serve in the region following the conclusion of the agreement «On the principles of the peaceful settlement of the armed conflict…» on 21 July 1992. The document was signed by the presidents of Russia and Moldova, Boris Yeltsin and Mircea Snegur, in the presence of the Pridnestrovian president, Igor Smirnov.
«The peacekeepers stopped fighting between the Moldovan police and Pridnesrovian militia and neutralised outlawed armed groups… No one has questioned the legitimacy of this agreement in 25 years and claimed the withdrawal from the agreement. It is a very strange position of Moldova which appealed to the UN, questioning this document without withdrawing from the agreement. It is illogical," said Krasnoselsky, stressing that changing the format of the peacekeeping operation was simply unacceptable.
According to him, Moldova's appeal to the UN, the adoption by the Moldovan parliament of a declaration on the withdrawal of the Russian military, who are part of the peacekeeping contingent, are related to the constitutional court decision of 2 May on the country's neutral status and the presence of Russian troops on its territory. It says that the presence of foreign military units or military bases is unconstitutional. The document also says that «Moldova does not permit the stationing of foreign troops on its territory.»
«From the point of view of Moldovan laws, Moraru's appeal to the UN is the execution of the constitutional court's decision. They are consistent, as you can see. But all these actions have nothing to do with the preservation of peace on the Dniester banks. I am deeply convinced that those who are stirring up the situation, who want the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the Security Zone want an escalation of the conflict in Pridnestrovie. We need to think seriously who benefits from this situation," noted Krasnoselsky.
