CHISINAU. June 10 (Interfax-AVN) - The Moldovan Parliament on Friday adopted an address which calls on Russia to withdraw its troops and weapons from Moldova's eastern districts by December 31, 2005.
The document was passed as part of plans to demilitarize the self-proclaimed republic of Transdniestria, a measure envisioned in Ukraine's Transdniestria settlement initiative.
"Russia should withdraw its troops and armaments from Moldova's eastern districts no later than December 31, 2005. Moldova asks the OSCE to create an international mechanism for the withdrawal by Russia of its servicemen and armaments," the address reads.
Moldova also suggests sending observers and experts to Transdniestria under the aegis of NATO's Partnership for Peace program who would monitor the region's demilitarization.
Moldova wants the OSCE, European Union, the Council of Europe, the United States, Russia, Ukraine and Romania to contribute to this process.
Members of the Moldovan Parliament believe that free elections in Transdniestria should be preceded by steps to release political prisoners, create a free media and establish a favorable environment for various political parties. The elections should be controlled by a European election commission with an OSCE mandate, which should begin working at least five months before the elections, they said.
Parliament called on the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the EU "to step up their involvement in the process of democratizing the Transdniestria region" and expressed confidence that these institutions will support Moldova's electoral conditions for Transdniestria.