OSCE Does Not Discuss Replacing Russian Peacekeepers in Transdniestria with Observers

The initiative of the President-elect of Moldova, Maia Sandu, to replace Russian peacekeepers in Transdniestria with civilian observers is not discussed in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). This announced Russia's Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Alexander Lukashevich, summing up the work of Russian diplomacy at the organization's site in 2020, tass.ru reported. "This topic is sometimes heard, but in the literal sense, of course, it is not discussed. There is a 5 + 2 format. Ministers at the last meeting [of the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers] agreed on a declaration that was adopted by consensus by all 57 participating States. there could be no such task, "Lukashevich replied to the question whether the OSCE is discussing the corresponding initiative of Sandu. The Permanent Representative recalled that the Russian peacekeepers are in Transdniestria with the consent of Chisinau and Tiraspol. They support and ensure stability in the region, the source said. "The progress of the Transdniestria n settlement is now stalled due to the non-constructive position. And these statements of the new leadership in Chisinau once again show that such approaches will definitely not be understood either by us or by other participants in the negotiation format," he said. The Russian permanent representative expressed the hope that the Moldovan side will take responsible steps towards the Transdniestrian settlement, "focusing on the signals that were given by consensus, including the Moldovan minister, within the framework of the statement of the 5 + 2 format (Moldova and Transdniestria are parties to the conflict, Russia and Ukraine are guarantors and mediators, the OSCE is mediator, and the US and the EU are observers - TASS noted). Sandu previously advocated the withdrawal of the Operational Group of Russian Forces (OGRV) from Transdniestria, ammunition, as well as the transformation of the peacekeeping operation with the participation of Russia. At the same time, she spoke in favor of replacing the Russian peacekeepers in Transdniestria with a civilian observer mission under the auspices of the OSCE. The press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov noted that a change in the status quo could lead to destabilization in Transdniestria and the Russian Federation expects to discuss the topic of peacekeepers and the absence of sudden movements.