Moldova renews call for Russian troop pullout and replacement of peacekeeping mission

The Republic of Moldova has reaffirmed its demand for the withdrawal of the Russian troops from its territory and for the replacement of the military contingents stationed in the disputed zone of Transnistria with a multinational civil mission, Info-Prim Neo reports. Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan highlighted this plea in his speech delivered at the closing session of the 16th OSCE Ministerial Council, which took place in Helsinki on December 4 and 5. “We reiterate the appeal for all the actors involved to engage actively in discussions on the replacement of the military contingents in the Security Zone with an internationally-mandated multinational civil mission. We reiterate our position on the full, immediate and unconditioned pullout of all the military forces and munitions of the Russian Federation from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, in conformity with the commitments assumed at the OSCE summits. This will lay the foundation for the ratification of the Adapted CFE Treaty by Moldova”, said Stratan. He invited all the interested actors to assist with democratizing the Transnistrian region of Moldova and urged on this occasion the Transnistrian authorities to remove all the obstacles hampering the free movement of persons and goods between the two banks of the Nistru River, and to start the demilitarization process in the context of the proposed confidence-building measures. Andrei Stratan subscribed to the position of other participants in the summit who expressed their profound regret that the Council had again failed to adopt a Ministerial Declaration and a Declaration on Moldova. According to him, despite the efforts made by the majority of the delegates, “we have failed for the sixth consecutive year to reach a consensus on these very important documents”. “We are determined to identify a political settlement through exclusively peaceful ways, with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, within the limits of its internationally-recognized borders. We are ready to resume constructive activities in the 5+2 format to identify a sustainable, final and comprehensive settlement as soon as possible, which would determine the legal status of the Transnistrian region within Moldova’s borders”, stated Andrei Stratan. He also appreciated the role of the European Union and the United States in ensuring progress in settling the conflict as well in a broader regional context. In particular, Andrei Stratan saluted the activity of the EU Border Assistance Mission and called for the prolongation of its mandate.