Moldova’s newly-installed Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian will meet on Thursday with Tiraspol’s chief negotiator to discuss the military drills taking place in the Transnistrian region with the involvement of Russian troops. This was announced by Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița at a press conference.
According to the Prime Minister, Moldova is advocating for the resumption of the working groups that have not met for some time and for resolving the technical problems that arise. “Obviously we are worried about the situation in the region. At the same time, we call again for maturity, understanding and wisdom and for peace and stability in our region.” Regarding the tense situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border, Natalia Gavrilița hopes that all parties will behave so that we have a stable and peaceful region.
Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, also noted that the Republic of Moldova is advocating for the continuation of the dialogue with the authorities on the left bank of the Nistru. At the same time, the presence of GOTR troops within Moldovan territory is contrary to the international commitments of the Russian Federation and international law. Both the presence as a whole and these military exercises are against the law, are not actions that help to calm the regional situation and as such are counterproductive, said Popescu.
On the Russia-Ukraine situation, Popescu stated: “Obviously we are concerned about these developments, and we as a state, as a Government, are ready to react promptly and in the national interest to any evolution in the region. Obviously, we cannot predict what these developments will be like in the region, but we as a Government are ready for any scenario, and through our actions we will defend the national interest of the Republic of Moldova and the security of our citizens. He added that he hopes the talks between the Russian Federation and the US, NATO, OSCE will lead to a calming of the regional situation.
