Moldova asks OSCE member states to support withdrawal of Russian troops, ammunition at UNO

Chisinau, 21 June /MOLDPRES/ – Permanent Representative of Moldova to the OSCE, Ambassador Victor Osipov, has presented at the Security Cooperation Forum (FCS) a statement addressing issues related to illegal foreign military presence on territory of Moldova. In this context, Ambassador Victor Osipov has asked, on behalf of Moldova, OSCE participating States to support resolution on withdrawal of Russian troops and munitions from territory of Moldova at the UNO, the Foreign and European Integration Ministry’s information and media communication service has reported.

Presenting the statement, Permanent Representative of Moldova to the OSCE said that through the Final Statement of the OSCE Summit in Istanbul in 1999, the participating States established liability to withdraw Russian troops from the sovereign territory of Moldova, stressing that this process, which initially recorded a notable progress, was subsequently suspended, and so – called Russian Operational Group (GOTR) continued to be illegally on territory of Moldova without its consent. "The need to guard Cobasna ammunition stocks which need to be evacuated and liquidated, or attempts to link GOTR and Russian peacekeeping troops are unacceptable justifications," stated Ambassador Osipov.

Referring to current security developments, Victor Osipov referred to issue of increasing the number of military exercises conducted by GOTR and Transnistrian paramilitary groups in 2017 and within first six months of 2018. The Permanent Representative of Moldova described the intensity of the exercises as being characteristic of preparation of military operations and stated that the OSCE structures are expected to have appropriate appraisal and application of mechanisms of Early Warning.

Finally, Ambassador Victor Osipov specified the importance of reducing tension in conflict regions and called on all OSCE participat states to support within the UNO General Assembly the initiative of Moldovan authorities upon complete and unconditional withdrawal of foreign military forces from territory of Moldova.