Kyiv ruining Transdniestrian peacekeeping mechanism - Tiraspol
TIRASPOL. May 22 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada's termination of the agreement on Russian military transit to the Transdniestrian conflict zone aims to erode the peacekeeping operation, unrecognized Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic President Yevgeny Shevchuk has said.
"Transdniestria worries about this decision, which creates prerequisites for destroying fundamentals of the ongoing peacekeeping operation held by the conflicting sides, Moldova and Transdniestria, Russia, and Ukrainian military observers," Shevchuk told Russia's Parlamentskaya Gazeta in an interview.
The Ukrainian authorities must realize that the peacekeeping operation is the only efficient mechanism to provide peace and security in the conflict zone, he said.
"Everyone admits that this peacekeeping operation has exhibited a unique degree of efficiency, restraint of the warring sides, and post-conflict stabilization," the Transdniestrian leader said.
In the opinion of Shevchuk, the peacekeeping operation can end only after the peaceful, political settlement of the conflict is accomplished. "The principle of this synchronization was laid down many years ago and repeatedly confirmed on international levels. With this in mind, we have questions about the motivation behind steps which aim to destabilize the area and may have unpredictable consequences amidst the existent regional risks and challenges. The Transdniestrian side thinks that this decision is escalating tensions," he said.