Eugen Carpov: Presence of Russian troops on Moldova’s territory is biggest danger to national security

06.11.2018 06:00
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The presence of the Russian troops on Moldova’s territory is the biggest danger to national security. The presence of foreign military troops, military equipment and munitions on the territory of a state endangers the military security situation, chairman of the Parliament’s commission on national security, defense and public order Eugen Carpov was quoted by IPN as saying in the talk show “Emphasis on today” on TVR Moldova channel.

In the case of the Republic of Moldova, the presence of the Russian troops was and remains an instrument for maintaining the separatist regime in the Transnistrian region. “If the Russian troops hadn’t stayed there on a permanent basis throughout this period, I’m convinced that a solution to the Transnistrian conflict would have been found earlier. Today the Russian Federation, by its open presence, I refer to the military troops, represents an element that stimulates internal factors in the Transnistrian region to try and show to the local population that Transnistria is a subject of international law,” stated Eugen Carpov.

According to him, the diplomats are obliged to address the illegal presence of the Russian troops on Moldova’s territory at all the international forums. Such approaches are permanently made at the OSCE, UN, NATO, EU and other organizations with which Moldova established relations.

Eugen Carpov noted that given the international conjuncture and Russia’s acts at international level, the chances of resuming the pullout of the troops from the Transnistrian region are now much smaller than 10-15 years ago.

National Army commander Vitalie Stoian said there now are about 20,000 tonnes of weapons and ammunition in the Transnistrian region and their shelf life expired. Therefore, their transportation and storage is dangerous. “A study showed an uncontrolled explosion at those supplies can be equal to the Hiroshima nuclear disaster of 1945, when about 170,000 people died,” stated the commander.

According to Vitalie Stoian, these munitions are guarded by the Operational Group of Russian Forces stationed in Transnistria. The Republic of Moldova does not have access to the stores in Cobasna and does not know the real situation.