TIRASPOL. June 5 (Interfax) - The unrecognized Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic's Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatyev said he believes that Russian diplomats' expulsion from Moldova is a step hindering the work of the Joint Control Commission, which is the body in charge of the peacekeeping operation in the Moldovan-Transndniestrian conflict zone.
"Russian diplomats' expulsion is a part of a range of problems both in Russian-Moldovan relations and the peacekeeping operation. It is constantly reported that there's no need for the peacekeeping operations. Calls for its transformation are constantly voiced. Options involving international institutions, for instance the European Union, or variants of a police operation are being elaborated on," Ignatyev said at a briefing on Monday. "In reality, the work of the Joint Control Commission, which is the body in charge of the peacekeeping operation, is being hindered," he said.
The people, who represented Russia at the Joint Control Commission, are among five expelled diplomats.
"As of the identities, we know them. I believe, the Russian side will disclose them in the near future. We know those people. We had worked with them, including as part of the Joint Control Commission," Ignatyev said.
Some of the Moldovan side's actions lead to destruction of the existing peacekeeping mechanisms, he said. "You know that the Moldovan side had virtually blocked the commission's work in the period from 2014 to this January. The Moldovan side has not participated in the joint peacekeeping drills for over than two years. Only the Transdniestrian and Russian peacekeepers conduct them. They sometimes refused to approve Russian diplomats as the commission's members. And the problem with rotation of Russian peacekeepers is the most notorious. As far as I know, it still exists," he said.
"Our stance is that the peacekeeping operation should continue until we arrive at the definite, comprehensive, and just settlement of Moldovan-Transdniestrian relations," Ignatyev said.
The peacekeeping operation at the banks of the Dniester River has been held since late July 1992. The contingent of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces includes the Russian, Moldovan, and Transdniestrian troops, as well as a group of Ukrainian military observers.
On May 29, five diplomats of the Russian Embassy in Moldova were declared personae non gratae. On May 31, the Russian Foreign Ministry decided on a proportionate response, the expulsion of five Moldovan diplomats from Russia.