Moldovan president insists on replacing peacekeepers in Transdniestria by civilian mission

The peacekeeping forces in the security area on the Dniester River have performed their mission and should be replaced by a civilian mission having an international mandate, Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti said.

Meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin in Chisinau on Friday, Timofti reaffirmed Moldova's position that Russia "should withdraw its troops and weapons from the area on the left bank of the Dniester to comply with its international obligations," the Moldovan presidential press service said.

The president appreciated the Russian leadership's decision to coordinate formal visits of Russian officials to the Transdniestrian region with the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.

Karasin, who plans to visit Tiraspol on Saturday, July 28, spoke in favor of consistently resolving problems between the two banks of the Dniester and welcomed dialogue between Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat and Tiraspol leader Eugene Sevciuc, the press service said.

Karasin reaffirmed Russia's position on importance of Moldova's reintegration and granting special status to the Transdniestrian region.

"A lot of pressing problems between Moldova and Transdniestria can be solved if the existing constructive atmosphere is preserved," he said.

Tiraspol believes that Karasin is coming to Transdniestria as the head of a Russian delegation to take part in a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the 1992 peacekeeping operation on the Dniester River.