TIRASPOL, July 29. /TASS/. Transdniestria’s leader Yevgeny Shevchuk has said Wednesday Russia’s military presence guarantees peace and security of residents of the unrecognized republic.

"Today, in the framework of changing foreign policy situation, we, as never before, understand very well the special historical role of peacekeepers in the life of our country. The inviolability of the existing format of the peacekeeping operation has been proved in practice," Shevchuk told Russia’s military contingent on the occasion of 23rd anniversary of the peacekeeping operation in the region. He thanked Russian servicemen "for professionalism and uneasy service for the sake of preserving peace on the banks of the Dniester River." "You are guarantors of peaceful life of Transdniestrian residents," he added.

The peacekeeping operation in Transdniestria is one of the most successful in the world, Shevchuk stressed. Since the start of the operation, no clashes have been registered in the region. This gave Chisinau and Tiraspol an opportunity to negotiate peaceful resolution of disputed issues.

Peace in the buffer zone along the Dniester River is supported by joint peacekeeping forces of Russia, Moldova, Transdniestria and military observers from Ukraine.