TIRASPOL, September 2 (Itar-Tass) — Russia and Ukraine should remain guarantors for peace settlement between Moldova and the Dniester region, the unrecognized republic’ s leader, Igor Smirnov, said at the celebrations devoted to the 21st anniversary of the Dniester region’s independence.
“Today a system of measures for strengthening regional security would be incomplete without Ukraine’s participation, including that in the peacekeeping operation,” he said on Friday. “Russia and Ukraine should remain guarantors for peaceful settlement and ensure regional stability.”
“Moscow’s interference helped to stop deaths of civilians and created conditions for peaceful settlement of the conflict. Efficiency of the peacekeeping operation under the aegis of Russia is time-tested and life-proven,” Smirnov said.
Chisinau and Tiraspol have been conducting talks since 1993, but in February 2006 the Moldovan delegation withdrew from the talks.
The conflict settlement talks involving Moldova, the Dniester region, Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE resumed under Russian mediation in 2008.
This process was suspended over Moldova’s political situation. Since then only working consultations on the Dniester conflict settlement take place.