Transdniestrian population to never support Russian peacekeepers' withdrawal - Shevchuk
MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax) - Russian peacekeepers are the cornerstone of the peacekeeping mission stationed in the unrecognized Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic, and their pullout may escalate the conflict in this region, Transdniestrian President Yevgeny Shevchuk said in his comments on the plans of Kyiv and Chisinau to initiate withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.
"The population of the Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic will never back up this idea; as of today, the Russian peacekeepers are the cornerstone of the peacekeeping operation and it's their presence in Transdniestria that maintains the peace. Chisinau hawks supported by Kyiv are trying to make their dream come true - to withdraw Russian troops before the political settlement process comes to an end," Shevchuk told the newspaper Izvestia in an interview published on Tuesday.
"This is a very dangerous initiative because contradictions between Tiraspol and Chisinau remain and are even exacerbating," he said. "The attempts of Chisinau or Kyiv to ruin the peacekeeping operation create risks of a more active stage of those contradictions, which is inadmissible. Why are they doing so? Do they want to create another conflict zone or to unfreeze this conflict?" the Transdniestrian leader said.
It was reported on Monday that Moldova and Ukraine were preparing a plan of the Russian peacekeepers' withdrawal from Transdniestria.
