Tiraspol Times & Weekly Review - peacekeeping

To Transnistria's plan of peace, Moldova responds with plan of war

Karen Ryan — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:37:37 -0500

Moldova has passed a national security concept in which Transdniestria is defined as Moldova's main threat. The new law comes a month after Transdniestria proposed a treaty of friendship and co-operation, which Moldova ignored. Moldova already failed in an earlier 1992 attempt to invade and conquer the 'de facto' independent state.

Ukraine to join NATO, "discreet nod" for Moldova

Jason Cooper — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:37:55 -0500

Ukraine will be part of NATO, says the military alliance's top official while at the same time also giving a "discreet nod" to Moldova. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer announced that immediate talks will be launched to eliminate problems that could hinder the implementation of the plan. Polls show that a majority of Ukrainians want their country to stay neutral and not join NATO.

Romania's President: "We support NATO's cooperation with Moldova"

Times staff — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:55:58 -0500

The President of Romania supports increased cooperation between NATO and Moldova. Traian Basescu made his statement Wednesday at a NATO summit that his Moldovan counterpart Vladimir Voronin is taking part in. US President George W Bush is also urging further NATO expansion to the east.

Dniester peacekeeper: "Don't fix something that's not broken"

Jason Cooper — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:24:25 -0600

Anatoly Zverev says that his job is to save lives. The head of Russia's third of the Moldova-Transdniestria peacekeeping force sees no point in changing the mission before a politically negotiated solution to the conflict has been found. He asks: "Why should you break something that works well?"

Moldova and Russia at odds over Trans-Dniester peacekeepers

Jason Cooper — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:43:59 -0600

Keeping the peace in Trans-Dniester (Pridnestrovie) has nothing to do with the CFE Treaty, says Russia. According to its foreign minister, the country has already complied in full with its commitments under the treaty, even though Moldova and no Western country ever ratified it. Moldova reacted bitterly to the Russian statements and repeated its earlier demands for immediate peacekeeping withdrawal.

Deal between Moldova and Transdniestria required before Russian pullout

Jason Cooper — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:02:40 -0600

As long as Moldova maintains its conflict with Transdniestria, it will not be possible for Russia to pull out of the region. So says Russia's deputy defense minister Vladimir Isakov. But after a deal is reached between the two sides, remaining military equipment and ammunition can be removed in just six months.

Russia says "Istanbul Commitments" complied for Transdniestria, Abkhazia

Jason Cooper — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:10:37 -0600

Russia's military chief of staff Yuri Baluyevsky says that "Russia has long ago carried out all of its CFE obligations". This includes the alleged "Istanbul commitments" which Moldova has falsely portrayed as a requirement to leave Transdniestria without any Russian peacekeeping participation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also confirmed that his country has already complied with the treaty in full.

Put Transdniestria under NATO occupation, Moldovans propose

Jason Cooper — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 06:42:24 -0500

A new proposal from Moldovan observers envisions a NATO occupation of Transdniestria until its final status is reached. They want the United States to push a plan for putting Transdniestria under UN trusteeship, with NATO troops guaranteeing the peace. Transdniestria (officially: Pridnestrovie) seeks formalization and international recognition of its current status as a "de facto" independent country.

Moldova drafts new recruits as part of military expansion plan

Times staff — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 07:40:31 -0500

While claiming to want peace, Moldova has secretly developed an expansion plan for its military. The plan, which will be carried out in November and December 2007, will bring the number of recruits to 3,035. In June, an additional 3,000 men were added and Transdniestria now openly fears that Moldova is preparing to launch new military attacks.

"Sign a peace deal first," says Transdniester to Voronin idea of joint army

Jason Cooper — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:00:35 -0500

Transdniester (officially Pridnestrovie) is not willing to join its military with Moldova's unless Moldova first signs a peace deal. On Wednesday, Moldovan strongman Vladimir Voronin suggested the creation of a single army under Moldovan command. To convince Pridnestrovie to go along, he promised not to start a new "nightmare" of the kind that his country unleashed against Pridnestrovie in 1992.