-There are many different statements on the presence of the Russian peacekeepers on the banks of Dniester. Statements about necessity of either transformation of the peacekeeping operation or event about liquidation of this peacekeeping mechanism are made from international bully pulpits, from European capitals. It should be noted that there are little arguments in defense of this position in the context of motivations. Generally speaking, there are no serious persuasive arguments at all. We can see that the peacekeeping operation if effective in comparison to any other operations conducted under the aegis of the United Nations Organization in other regions of our planet.
It should also be noted that, regrettably, situation in the Security Zone is far from being tranquil. We fixed about 40 incidents for only a half a year. It is more than we had last year, more than a number of incidents in the whole 2011. Western colleagues use to say that 20 years passed and it is time to change the peacekeeping operation. But we can see that though 20 years passed, our positions remain on the starting level in political aspect of settlement process. Only now we managed to restart the work of the political mechanism, to define procedures and principles of the dialogue in the 5+2 format, we launched the work за the expert groups and this work is still on the opening phase. We have to little solved social and economic issues. Generally speaking, we are once again starting to build dialogue and atmosphere of mutual understanding. I believe, much time has to pass until we come close to start solving political issues. That is why in political aspect we have no conditions to start discussing the peacekeeping operation.
Let us remember the joint position of the three states, reflected in the trilateral statement of the Presidents of Russia, Moldova and Pridnestrovie in 2009 on the possibility of changing the format of operation only after certain concrete parameters of the final political settlement will be reached. It is not the proper time even to start discussion on this issue.
I would like to mention that for these 20 years much changed indeed and maybe the 20-year-long peace on the banks of Dniester, the fact that independent Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic exists for almost 22 years – is the major accomplishment. I believe that it is necessary to consider this fact when we talk about any questions connected to the peacekeeping operation.
In my opinion there is one obvious and simple conclusion coming from both the official statements by the Russian side and from the official statements of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic: the peacekeeping operation in its current format and with the leading role of the Russian Federation shall continue. 20-year-long peace on Dniester shall continue as next decades of peace, stability and security. I believe that this conclusion is obvious and there are no serious reasons to doubt in it: neither political and diplomatic, nor geopolitical or any other. We shall make all efforts in order to keep the peacekeeping operation functioning and keeping its format which was established 20 years ago and was farsighted and functional enough to demonstrate its high effectiveness up to now.
Undoubtedly, our European colleagues may express their own opinion on this issue, but for us the facts, the existing reality and the will of the Pridnestrovian people are determinative factors.
-Q
