The head of the USA Committee for NATO, Bruce Jackson, one of the promoters of the expansion of the North-Atlantic Alliance, believes the real intentions of the exercises like those that will take place on Bulboaca shooting grounds are purposely distorted by the anachronistic perceptions of Russia. In an interview for the BBC office in Chisinau, the official declared that it is rather strange that the NATO military exercises in the Republic of Moldova are “a discussible issue, a problem in the region, as it is not a concern neither in Brussels nor Washington". "The potential causes of this discussions are the problems occurred this summer (of 2006, r.n.) in Crimea”, Jackson added, referring to the protest actions against similar military exercises in Crimea, organized by pro-Russia and anti-NATO activists. "Moscow doesn’t want the presence of the EU, World Trade Organization or NATO closer than Vienna. Moscow wants the reestablishment of the Iron Curtain,” Bruce Jackson declared. The head of the USA Committee for NATO also mentioned: “It is obvious that the European institutions that are part of the Peace Partnership are also part of the western Euro-Atlantic system. The eastern countries, the eastern children of Europe, should have the same chances as the western children of Europe. This fact implies taking part of the European Union, the free market, visa system etc. And Moscow is bothered by the fact that these institutions are much more attractive and more appealing for people than the old ex-soviet and CIS institutions". When inquired whether the military exercise carried out not far from a Russian military base could be interpreted as a threat, or at least an unfriendly gesture towards Russia, Jackson replied rhetorically: “Does Russia have military bases in the Republic of Moldova?" The American official pointed out that in the case of Transnistria, Russia has to respect the decisions from Istanbul and should have removed its troops in 1991. According to Jackson, Transnistria is now a responsibility of the international community, and Russia has to solve the conflicts left after the Soviet Union collapsed. Several parties of extra-parliamentary opposition have announced that the NATO exercise, as well as the collaboration with the North-Atlantic Alliance at whole, would contradict the neutral status of the Republic of Moldova. The head of the USA Committee for NATO rejects this affirmation. “The Peace Partnership, also named European Partnership (EAPC), is formed of approximately 54 countries. Taking part in peace maintaining missions by no means interferes with the neutral status. The actions of the Partnership are solely stabilization and trust consolidation actions. Its mission was intended to be a trust consolidation program, and actually has nothing to do with real military actions. It doesn’t contain war preparations, it’s only a way to strengthen trust, to develop border monitoring skills and to create a secure life for people”, Bruce Jackson concluded in an interview for BBC office in Chisinau, cited by Info-Prim Neo.