Tiraspol, July 27. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The peacekeeping operation in Pridnestrovie must continue. This was stated by Deputy Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Ivan Nechaev at a press conference. He announced that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov plans to send his greetings to the peacekeepers of Russia, Moldova, and Pridnestrovie on the occasion of the anniversary of their mission on the Dniester.
“July 29 marks the 30th anniversary of the entry of Russian peacekeepers into Pridnestrovie. Thus, the hot phase of the Pridnestrovian conflict was stopped, and the formation of a trilateral peacekeeping operation was initiated, which ensures peace and stability on the Dniester to this day,” he recalled.
The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized the uniqueness of this format. After all, the mission includes, along with Russian peacekeepers, the military, who represent the parties to the conflict themselves - Pridnestrovie and Moldova.
“Today, both in Moldova and in the West, there are voices that the current format of the peacekeeping operation is allegedly outdated and has fulfilled its purpose. We strongly disagree with this point of view. The mission has been and will always remain a reliable basis for continuing the political dialogue of the parties and developing a viable and comprehensive solution to the Pridnestrovian problem. The fact that security risks remain in the region was shown by the armed provocations that took place in Pridnestrovie in April-May of this year, and in fact, they were terrorist attacks,” Ivan Nechaev said.
In this regard, the Russian Federation insists on continuing the peacekeeping operation in Pridnestrovie, and in the format in which it has been operating for 30 years.
“The Russian position is unchanged and is that the peacekeepers must continue their mission. And the question of reconfiguring the operation, and changing its status can only be raised when a formula for a political settlement of the situation around Pridnestrovie is found. This is still a long way off, unfortunately,” a representative of the Foreign Ministry voiced the official position of Russia.