Russia's Rogozin confirms inviolability of peacekeeping mission status in Transdniestria

Moscow - Russia's deputy prime minister and presidential envoy for Transdniestria, Dmitry Rogozin, confirmed at a meeting with Transdniestrian leader Yevgeny Shevchuk that the status of the Russian-led peacekeeping mission in the region remains firm.

 "I met with President of Transdniestria Shevchuk at the Russian House of Government today," Rogozin said on his Twitter page on Monday.

"We discussed issues facing the republic's economic life and social support for the residents of this independent republic, which is home to 150,000 Russian citizens, in detail. I confirmed the inviolability of the status of Russia's peacekeeping mission in this region to the guest," the deputy premier said.

Rogozin also said he had informed Shevchuk of the main results of Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat's visit to Russia.

Filat and Shevchuk are expected to meet later this week to analyze the results achieved by joint expert commissions in charge of promoting confidence building measures between the sides in the conflict.

Filat told journalists on Monday that he and Shevchuk agreed to hold this meeting during a telephone conversation this past weekend. The Moldovan prime minister, however, declined to name any date for the meeting.

Chisinau has been insisting on changing the status of Russia's peacekeeping mission in the region. Moldovan government officials visited Moscow earlier. Moldova's Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Iurie Leanca told Interfax that he saw no reasons for the military peacekeepers to remain in the security zone of the Transdniestrian conflict.

"Chisinau has plenty of arguments to convince its partners from Russia that there are no reasons to maintain the current state of affairs. It is time to demilitarize this zone. It is no longer dangerous there, which points to the absence of reasons to continue maintaining order there by military means. I am certain of it and hope that there is not a single sensible person who believes in a possible repeat of the 1992 events," Leanca said.