Tiraspol believes Russian peacekeepers should continue to maintain security in Transdniestria

MOSCOW. May 2 (Interfax) - Russian peacekeepers should stay in Transdniestria if Moldova withdraws from the agreement on a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the region, Vitaly Ignatyev, foreign minister of the unrecognized Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic, said in an interview published in the Tuesday issue of Izvestia.

"There can be only one response for the Transdniestrian side, which is continuing to ensure peace and security on the banks of the Dniester River within the framework of the existing arrangements," Ignatyev said.

"Even if Moldova tries to withdraw [from the 1992 agreement], we believe this would not be a reason for phasing out the peacekeeping operation. It needs to be preserved in any case, because there is a substantial number of civilians living here, it's a half-million population of Transdniestria, among them nearly 250,000 Russian citizens. All these people require protection," Ignatyev said.