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Chisinau’s proposals to change peacekeeping format in Transdniestria premature The number of peacekeeping checkpoints in the security zone covering part of Transdniestria and part of Moldova on both sides of the Dniester River could be reduced, said Moldovan peacekeeping commanders. Their view is strongly opposed by Transdniestria.

"Given that we have had peace for 17 years, given the current situation where cooperation has established not only between the peacekeepers, but also law enforcement authorities of both parties, there is an opportunity to optimize the peacekeeping operation. Today there is no need to keep two peacekeeping posts in the same place on both sides," Commander of Moldovan peacekeeping troops Col. Aurel Fondos told journalists after a two-day military exercise by the peacekeeping forces.

Currently, it is unacceptable to talk about changing the format of the peacekeeping operations, said Oleg Belyakov, the Transdniestrian co-chairman of the Joint Control Commission (JCC), commenting on the statements by Moldovan politicians urging to replace the peacekeeping operation format.

According to a joint statement by the Russian, Transdniestrian and Moldovan presidents made on March 18, 2009, peacekeepers cannot be replaced with a civilian mission until the status of the Moldovan Republic of Transdniestria is finally determined, he recalled.

Meanwhile, the current agreements signed by the leaders of both republics are not working, he said. "When this mechanism is destroyed, talking about changing the format of the peacekeeping operation is unacceptable," he said.

Changes in the format of the peacekeeping mission "is not a matter for the military and not even in the remit of the JCC, these are the matters that lie in the diplomatic and political field," Fondos said.