Moldova Reminded It Expects Russian Troops To Be Withdrawn from Transnistria

Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu said that Chisinau will continue to demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria, as well as the destruction of outdated ammunition. According to Russian Interfax, he said this at a briefing after a government meeting, writes Evropeiskaya Pravda. “Moldova will keep insisting on the withdrawal of Russian troops, this remains an important task ... We will solve this problem by dialogue and concrete actions. This dialogue is constantly being conducted with our Russian partners,” said Nicu Popescu. The Minister also expressed regret over the exercises of the Russian military in Transnistria last weekend. “The presence of an Operational Group of troops on the left bank of the Dniester contradicts Russia’s international obligations and national legislation. And, accordingly, both the presence itself and the conduct of the exercises contradict our legislation. Such exercises will not help pacify the situation in the region, and these actions are counterproductive,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration stressed. More than a year ago, after her election victory, President Maia Sandu called for reforming the peacekeeping mission in Transnistria and turning it into a civilian one. At that time, Russia rejected her demand and called these proposals “irresponsible”. Point