12:38 25.08.2017

Moldova's call for withdrawal of Russian troops from Transdniestria unrelated to peacekeepers

2 min read
Moldova's call for withdrawal of Russian troops from Transdniestria unrelated to peacekeepers

The Moldovan leadership has proposed that the UN General Assembly discuss the withdrawal of Russia's task force from the Moldovan territory, and the proposal does not apply to peacekeepers, the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration said in a statement.

"Moldova's initiative of adding an item of the withdrawal of Russian forces from the Moldovan territory to the agenda of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly does not relate to Russian servicemen participating in the trilateral peacekeeping force stationed in the security zone of the Transdniestrian region," the ministry said.

Media reports claiming that Chisinau has demanded Russian peacekeepers be withdrawn "distort the essence of the Moldovan initiative and texts of the documents submitted to the UN secretary-general," it said.

The Moldovan parliament adopted a declaration on the withdrawal of Russian forces from the Moldovan territory on July 21, 2017, and demanded that the government and the president promote the adoption of a relevant resolution of the UN General Assembly, which is why the appeal to the UN secretary-general had been made, the ministry said.

"The possible addition of the item proposed by Moldova to the agenda of the 72nd session will make possible a constructive discussion by the UN General Assembly of the unlawful deployment of the Russian task force in the country's territory for the past 25 years in violation of the constitution, the permanent neutrality, sovereignty, and eternal principles of the international law," the ministry said.

The task force established in 1995 comprises two separate motorized infantry battalions and a security and support battalion. The total strength of the task force, including peacekeepers, nears 1,700 men.

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