Moldovan, Russian, Transnistrian, Ukrainian representatives mark 23rd anniversary of launch of peacekeeping mission at Dniester River

Chisinau, 31 July /MOLDPRES/ - The 23rd anniversary of the launch of the peacekeeping mission in the breakaway Transnistrian region of Moldova was marked in Bender on 30 July. Moldovan, Russian and Transnistrian military bodies, the 53rd Group of Ukrainian military observers, delegations to the Joint Control Commission (JCC), representatives of Ukraine and OSCE ,diplomats, representatives of the Church and local public administration from the Security Zone attended the event, the Moldovan delegation to the JCC has reported.

Soldiers from the peacekeeping troops carried out wielding weapons and melee combat demonstrations, organised an exhibition of military technology, weapons and equipment and presented a festive concert.

Despite the fact that, at the previous JCC meeting, the sides agreed that participants be represented at the level of heads of delegations, the Transnistrian side violated the understanding and turned the event into a political one by the presence of Tatiana Turanskaya. She was introduced as “prime minister of the Moldovan Transnistrian republic” by the person leading the event, serviceman of the Russian contingent. He also introduced Oleg Belyakov as co-chairman of the Joint Control Commission on the behalf of the “Moldovan Transnistrian republic,” which represents and inadmissible terminology, that is not complying with the provisions of the 1992 ceasefire agreement, signed between Moldova and Russia. Other infringements were recorded during the festive programme too.  

In his speech, the JCC co-head on behalf of Chisinau, brigade general Ion Solonenco warned about erroneous and threatening messages launched by the Tiraspol delegation members in press ahead of the anniversary. They tendentiously treated both the 1992 events and the role of the participants in the process of peacekeeping mission, by ignoring the criterion of their neutrality. Moreover, they launched signals alleging that new military clashes are expected in the region.  

The Moldovan delegation voices regret about the non-observance of the agreements between the JCC co-heads, politicizing of an event carried out within the peacekeeping mission and describes   as unacceptable the Transnistrian side’s messages of manipulation and intimidation of the residents from the Security Zone. 

(Editor M. Jantovan)