Minister of Defense Anatol Salaru said the Russian army in the Transnistrian region is an impediment to Moldova’s neutrality. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, the official said the misunderstandings between him and President-elect Igor Dodon are imminent, but they both must obey the law, IPN reports.
Salaru noted the country’s neutrality must be recognized and one of the conditions for this to happen is for no foreign army to exist on the territory of the state. Russia was the country that earlier proposed Moldova to include an article about neutrality in its Constitution.
The minister considers that Russia will not withdraw its army from the Transnistrian region as long as it is interested in maintaining a fire moldering in the Transnistrian region. “As the Russian army in Transnistria is the main obstacle to the resolution of the Transnistrian conflict, to the de facto and de jure recognition of our neutrality and to the economic development of Moldova and our European course, there will be no changes in the Republic of Moldova until the Transnistrian conflict is not settled,” he stated.
Anatol Salaru added there are particular conventions and documents signed with Russia, which clearly stipulate the mission of this army here and when it must be withdrawn and this was to be done long ago.
The largest ammunition depot in Eastern Europe, built in the 1940s, is located on the left side of the Nistru. Anatol Salaru noted that this poses huge threats. In case of an explosion, an area of 5,000 square kilometers will be affected. This includes a part of Ukraine, almost the entire Transnistrian region and a large part of the right bank of the Nistru. The Russian authorities deny this as they thus have a reason to keep their 1,200 soldiers in Transnistria.
