Transnistrian leader in favor of strengthening current format of peacekeeping mission

The new Transnistrian leader Evgeny Shevchuk supports the current format of the peacekeeping mission. “We consider that the current peacekeeping format is efficient and we are in favor of strengthening it. Its efficiency and viability became evident over time,” the Transnistrian leader said on the official webpage president.pmr-gov.org, Info-Prim Neo reports. On January 5, Evgeny Shevchuk had a working meeting with the Transnistrian personnel of the peacekeeping forces. “Any challenge on the part of the Moldovan side or other partners as regards the modification of the format of the peacekeeping mission is groundless. We will observe the previously signed agreements. This means that the peacekeeping battalion of the Moldovan Transnistrian republic will continue its mission and will protect the lives of the people living here,” he stated. The necessity of demilitarizing the peacekeeping forces in the Security Zone of the Transnistrian conflict and replacing them with an internationally-mandated civil mission reappeared in the agenda of the Transnistrian settlement discussions after a tragic incident when a young man was killed by a Russian military man of the tripartite peacekeeping post No.9 located near Vadul lui Voda.