Expert Sergiu Ostaf voiced hope that this action by the Government of Moldova, which is an unprecedented one, forms part of an executive’s strategy for putting the mechanism for withdrawing the forces of an army that is not wanted on Moldova’s territory. It should be noted that it is not about the peacekeeping component, but about the Operational Group of Russian Forces stationed on the left side of the Nistru, he stated in a public debate entitled “(Political, economic, social, international) consequences of UN discussion on the withdrawal of the foreign army from Moldova’s territory” that was held by IPN Agency and Radio Moldova.
“We don’t know if a strategy exists and if this resolution forms part of a series of steps or dynamics planned by the Government of the Republic of Moldova and this is a regrettable situation. Unfortunately, it seems that we haven’t had a strategy in this regard since 1992. The current government either does not plan such a strategy,” said the expert.
According to him, the Government should have an offensive strategy to really achieve the desideratum to have the foreign troops withdrawn from Moldova’s territory. “I think it is important to explore the proactive actions of the government or society in general, which does not want its sovereignty and independence to be encroached by the presence of foreign armed forces on the territory of the Republic of Moldova,” stated Sergiu Ostaf.
The expert considers it is important to influence the public opinion and to make important international players to adopt positons in relation to the pullout of the Russian army from the country’s territory, as in 1999, when the Russian forces were withdrawn from the Baltic states owing to the efforts made by Germany, the EU and the U.S.
Among other important aspects are the building of confidence between the two sides of the Nistru and the identification of solutions for taking away the munitions kept at the military storehouse in Cobasna. However, to succeed the national political forces should unite and insist on strategic aspects for the county as it would be a pity to restart some of the actions that already witnessed progress.
As to how realistic this resolution is and what effects it will produce, Sergiu Ostaf said there are several dimensions here. The first refers to the formulation of the positon on the regular army of the Russian Federation stationed in the Transnistrian region and the second applies to the relationship wanted by the government in relation to this army. The third aspect refers to the attempt to make a number of states formulate their position on this issue and by the resolution this goal was achieved.
It is also about the formulation of an internal policy position and the possibility of drawing conclusions as regards an eventual intention to formulate a strategy for the future in relation to the regular army in the Transnistrian region.
The public debate “(Political, economic, social, international) consequences of UN discussion on the withdrawal of the foreign army from Moldova’s territory” was the 91st installment of the series “Developing political culture through public debates” that are staged with the support of the German foundation Hanns Seidel.
