Moldovan Democrats criticize statement by OSCE representative

Chisinau, 13 March /MOLDPRES/- Democrat leader Vlad Plahotniuc today criticized statements made by the OSCE representative for the Transnistrian region Franco Frattini and reiterated “withdrawal of Russian troops from the left bank of the Dniestre is a priority for Moldova.”

Plahotniuc said that these statements may block and derail progress in the negotiations over the last years.

“We understand the official’s concern in promoting messages that would continue to provide support to the OSCE, including financially, from Russia, but we note that such messages in Moscow or elsewhere can have the most detrimental effect on the Transnistrian conflict settlement. Even more, such foolish statements can block and divert our progress in the current negotiations, when we, with our own forces, have advanced a lot in the dialogue between Chisinau and Tiraspol. Dialogue in which we found compromise on several issues and signed agreements while avoiding the sovereignty of Transnistria,” he said.

He noted that there were situations earlier when “due to the ambition of some international officials to mark formal success in solving the conflict, it tried to impose the signing of certain documents to the disadvantage of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova.”

“We do not understand why now, when are making real progress for the first time in the last 15 years around both banks of the Dniestre, our efforts are being thwarted by subversive statements by officials. The withdrawal of Russian troops from our territory is and will remain a priority for Moldova, which we hope it will be further supported by the international community, including Russia,” he said.

Last week, Franco Frattini visiting Moscow said in an interview with a Russian TV channel that “Moldova’s request on the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country is one detached from reality.”

(Reporter A. Zara, editor M. Jantovan)