Moscow. 25th of April. INTERFAX.RU – The representative of Tiraspol at the negotiations with Chisinau, Vitaly Ignatiev, called the exercises of Russian peacekeepers, which took place the day before in Transnistria, justified.
“Conducting exercises is necessary to ensure the combat readiness of units and sharpen skills in maintaining peace and security,” Ignatiev said on Thursday during a lecture at the Transnistrian University.
He called the statement by Moldovan representatives regarding the exercises “cynical speculation,” saying that it contradicts the basic agreements within the peacekeeping operation. Ignatiev explained this by the fact that Moldavian peacekeepers have not participated in exercises with representatives of Russia and Transnistria for many years.
“The hypocrisy of such a statement increases squarely against the backdrop of the endless military exercises that Moldova conducts with contingents of NATO countries. Let me remind you that over the past year Moldova conducted 18 exercises. This is a state whose leadership declares that it is peace-loving. The fact that it neutral, stated in the Constitution of Moldova. And it (the state), together with contingents of NATO countries, is conducting military exercises. The European Peace Foundation is buying weapons for Moldova,” said the representative of Tiraspol.
“Moldova’s exercises with NATO countries are not caused by any necessity, since the peacekeepers are quite capable of ensuring peace and security. Any sane person sees that Moldova is engaged in military manipulations, understands that this is not without reason, especially in the context of regional and global conflicts and Moldova’s complete dependence on NATO countries,” Ignatiev said.
The day before, the Bureau of Reintegration under the Government of Moldova stated that the exercises of Russian peacekeepers contradict the principles of peacekeeping and the legislation of Moldova and were carried out without coordination with the JCC and the joint military command.
The Joint Control Commission (JCC) is the coordinating body in the security zone. Within the framework of the JCC, there is a unified military command, to which trilateral peacekeeping forces from Moldova, Russia and Transnistria are subordinate. The commission was created in accordance with the Moldovan-Russian agreement on the principles of ending the armed conflict in Transnistria dated July 21, 1992. In accordance with this document, peacekeepers were brought into the region. Currently, they count 350-400 military personnel from Moldova, Russia and Transnistria. The JCC has three co-chairs. The commission meets weekly and decisions are made by consensus.
Tags: Tiraspol violations exercises Russian peacekeepers Transnistria
