TIRASPOL. June 28 (Interfax-AVN) - A joint training of peacekeeping units from Russia, Moldova and Trans-Dniestr region started near the town of Dubossary on Friday, the region's peacekeeping troops commander Major General Yuri Matveyev told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"In the course of the training which takes place at the Gura- Bykului 11th checkpoint the peacekeepers practice operations in the security zone as well as cooperation when dividing combating parties," Matveyev said.
"The aim of the training is to check the level of combat capabilities of peacekeeping units and quality of their cooperation," he stressed.
At present the Trans-Dniestr region hosts the Russian operational troops group that is established on the basis of the 14th general army as well as a Russian peacekeeping battalion. In accordance with the Istanbul agreements all combat equipment and personnel of the troops group should be withdrawn from the territory up to December 31, 2002.
Russian Land Forces commander on peacekeeping troops Lieutenant General Valery Yevnevich told Interfax-Military News Agency that "by December 1 the troops group will be reduced up to 1,500 people and will be fully included in the Russian peacekeeping forces."