Unsettlement of Transnistrian crisis transformed Moldova into a highly militarized country

The failure to solve the Transnistrian conflict had as a result excessive politicizing of the problems related to the control of small weapons and ensuring control in the region, is presented in a report on Small Weapons and Light Armament (SWLA) in Moldova, which was launched on Tuesday, September 26 in Chisinau. The study is a research work on the control of small weapons and problems related to human security, which was carried out both on the territory controlled by the Government from Chisinau and that administrated by Transnistrian authorities. In the report is mentioned that the high level of distrust resulting from the unsettlement of the Transnistrian conflict hobbled efficient control over small weapons and undermined the reform in the security field. As a result, Moldova continues to be a highly militarized country. The report estimates the existence of 289 SWLA units on the both sides of Nistru. The report provides recommendations for the Government of the Republic of Moldova on creating a program which would improve control over small weapons and personal security, and presents some suggestions to the EU, its member countries and as well to OSCE to intensify efforts in tackling these issues within the political dialogue with Moldova, administration of Transnistria, authorities of Ukraine and Russia. Arcadie Barbarosie, executive director of the Public Policies Institute, declared at study’s launching that it aims at finding solutions and recommendations and afterwards proposing it to the government and public opinion. He expressed his hope that the recommendations will be useful for the elaboration of a strategy and an Governmental action plan, in light of maintaining the security field under permanent control, which was until now closed to the wide public. According to Bruno Pouezat, permanent representative of PNUD to Moldova, the information presented in the report emphasized the problems which must be solved in SWLA area. The study was elaborated by the UK-based organization Safeworld, in partnership with IPP, at the solicitation of Cliring Bureau for control in the field of SWLA in Europe and South-East Europe.