TIRASPOL, June 19 (Itar-Tass) - The Dniester region has no plans to change the format of the peacekeeping operation, which is one of the world’s most successful, the president of Moldova’s unrecognized republic, Yevgeny Shevchuk, told reporters on Wednesday after a rally devoted the 1992 Bendery tragedy.
“Last year around 60 accidents were registered in the security zone. We manage to smooth conflicts within the current format of the operation, therefore we oppose the format change, as today there are no objective reasons for this,” he said.
“The main thing is that people are not killed in the Dniester region, therefore I think that at first, it is necessary to consider the issues of socio-economic stabilization and only then to discuss formulas of political interaction between Chisinau and Tiraspol and the peacekeeping operation’s format,” he said. “But the Moldovan authorities’ rhetoric becomes even more aggressive and this cannot but raise concern.”
Shevchuk expressed an opinion that tensions in the security zone emerged, first of all, over instability in Moldova.
“Possibly, the new authorities need time to study the situation. As concerns the Dniester region’s position, I have repeatedly mentioned that we feel no aggression to our neighbours and have no plans to wage a war,” Shevchuk said.
At the same time he noted that escalation of tensions raises concern in Tiraspol. “This concerns the introduction of unclear migration control on Moldova’s border with the Dniester region, whose residents hold passports of Russia and Ukraine. These actions cannot be called constructive,” he said.
Shevchuk warned Chisinau not to attempt to reconsider agreements signed after the 1992 conflict.
“This is a very dangerous trend. I see, different politicians have the right to express different points of view. But I would like to warn everybody from radical making moves on this track. I hope that these difficulties will be ironed out in the negotiating process,” Shevchuk said.
On Thursday Moldova’s parliament at its meeting behind closed doors will consider the situation in the security zone of the Dniester conflict, which has aggravated of late.