BFF-02 Moldovan president plans to explain Putin his position on Russian peacemakers

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ZCZC

BFF-02

MOLDOVAN-PUTIN

Moldovan president plans to explain Putin his position on Russian
peacemakers

CHISINAU, July 5, 2018 (BSS/TASS)- Moldovan President Igor Dodon expects to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow next week in order to explain his position on the Russian peacemakers, the Moldovan leader said in an interview with the TV channel NTV Moldova on Wednesday, commenting on the government’s initiative on the withdrawal of the Russian soldiers from unrecognized Transnistria.

“I will explain my position on the peacemakers and on Transnistria in general. This position on the withdrawal [of the Russian soldiers] runs counter to the opinion of the majority of the country’s citizens.

It [the requirement] was caused by the political fight and the preparations for the parliamentary election. It would be wrong to say that the peacemaking mission on the Dniester should end,” the president said.

Dodon said that the resolution “Complete and unconditional withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territory of the Republic of Moldova” adopted by the UN General Assembly is counterproductive.

“I addressed the UN General Assembly, where I said that this issue should be discussed after the parliamentary election (in 2018 – TASS),” the head of state said.

“A coordinated position between the parliament, the government and the president is needed to solve this problem.” Moldova’s government earlier explained that the UN General Assembly’s resolution concerns the Operative Group of the Russian Troops (OGRT), which has to guard munition depots left after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The arms transportation was blocked by Transnistria’s authorities following the escalation of tensions in relations with Chisinau.

Moscow notes that the OGRT also has to support the Russian peacemakers who were dispatched there in accordance with the “Agreement on the Principles for a Peaceful Settlement of the Armed Conflict in the Dniester Region of the Republic of Moldova” as of July 21, 1992.

The Russian blue helmets found themselves in a blockade after Ukraine had cut their supply routes. Chisinau also strives to replace the Russian peacemakers with a civil mission of international observers.

Tiraspol resolutely opposes it, as it believes Russia’s presence to guarantee peace on the Dniester.

BSS/TASS/AU/07:45 hrs