Moldovan delegation to Joint Control Commission says Transnistrian representatives delay free movement talks

Chisinau, 13 November /MOLDPRES/- At the proposal of the Russian delegation, the Joint Control Commission (CUC) held an unordinary meeting on 12 November. Its agenda included the approval of a new Russian delegate to CUC, appointment and dismissal of some Russian military observers, as well as the approval of the reports on the situation in the Security Zone.

Officials of the Bureau for Reintegration said the Moldovan delegation had argued the need to exclude the approval of a new Russian delegate from the agenda of the meeting, despite Russian delegation’s insistent efforts to propose it over the last eight consecutive meetings. Moldovan officials said the candidate had violated prior coordination procedures and rules of entry into the country, reiterating the obligation to comply with the previously agreed mechanisms. At the same time, the Moldovan delegation suggested participants continue talks on the next topics on the agenda. However, the co-chairman of the Russian delegation to CUC refused to continue discussions without any explanations, thus, blocking the approval of the new Russian military observers and hindering them from exercising their duties.

During the meeting, the Moldovan delegation handed CUC representatives and the rest of the participants in the meeting a declaration on practices used by the so-called Transnistrian authorities to misinform the public opinion.

With Russia’s support, the Transnistrian delegation during the meeting, issued a statement on the need to re-check peacekeeping posts in the south area of the Security Zone. According to a press release by the Bureau for Reintegration, it is worth mentioning that the readiness level of the peacekeeping posts for the cold season was recently assessed by the Joint Military Commandment, in charge of such controls. As no irregularities that might disrupt the activity of the posts were detected, an inspection by CUC representatives was not necessary.

Moldova’s delegation to CUC qualifies this initiative as meaningless and in contravention with the Article 4.1 of the commission’s regulation. According to them, it is clearly meant to distract the attention of the rest of the CUC members from the subject of free movement across the Security Zone, included on the agenda on 29 January 2015. Since then, talks on this topic had been intentionally postponed by the Transnistrian representatives.

(Editor L. Alcaza)