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Moscow concerned over deteriorating situation in security zone of Transdniestria conflict

According to a Russian diplomat, the deterioration of the situation was provoked by flights of third party’s aircraft initiated by Moldova over several facilities located in Transdnisetria
Russian Foreign Ministry building in Moscow Natalya Garnelis/TASS
Russian Foreign Ministry building in Moscow
© Natalya Garnelis/TASS

MOSCOW, April 29. /TASS/. The deteriorating situation in the security zone of the Transdniestrian conflict arises serious concern, Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-Large and Russia’s envoy to talks on Transdniestrian settlement Sergey Gubarev told TASS on Friday.

"The deterioration of the situation was provoked by flights of third party’s aircraft initiated by Moldova over several facilities located in Transdnisetria," Gubarev said.

He reminded that from April 4 to April 27, unauthorized flights were repeatedly carried out over the security zone, as well as over Transdniestrian cities of Ribnita, Dubasari and Grigoriopol. Transdniestria said that in response to Chisinau’s unfriendly actions, Transdniestrian air defense forces were put in full combat readiness. "This, of course, does not contribute to creating constructive atmosphere," the diplomat noted.

"I want to call on the sides to look for a way out of the current situation in the framework of the leadership of the peacekeeping operation - Joint Control Commission and Join Military Command, as well as once again stress the importance of refraining from any actions and harsh statements that can considerably complicate the situation in the security zone," Gubarev said.

The diplomat reminded that he "repeatedly reminded about the necessity to abandon the practice of unilateral steps aimed at worsening the position of the other side." "I hope that this call will finally be heard. I proceed from the fact that this incident will not be used to the detriment of positive progress in the official work of the ‘5+2’ format," he concluded.

The Transdniestrian conflict started in March 1992 when the first clashes occurred between Moldovan police and Transdniestrian militia near the city of Dubossary, which were followed by an outbreak of armed hostilities. By summer, it had developed into large-scale fighting in Bendery, where about a thousand people were killed and tens of thousands were wounded and became refugees.

The fratricidal war was stopped after a peace agreement was signed in Moscow in July of the same year and Russian peacekeepers were brought into the conflict area. Since then, they have been guarding peace and calm in the region, together with their Moldovan and Transdniestrian colleagues, thus allowing Chisinau and Tiraspol to conduct negotiations on the settlement of the conflict around the breakaway republic.