MOSCOW. Nov 23 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia's agreement with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OCSE) on the removal of its military property from Transdniestria will not be implemented through the fault of the Moldovan leadership, said a top Russian Defense Ministry official.
"Unfortunately, Moldova is hampering the removal of ammunition and property of the former 14th Army from Transdniestria. Therefore we will not be able to fulfil our obligations to the OSCE by the end of this year," Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Isakov, who is in charge of the Armed Forces' logistics support services, told journalists in Moscow on Tuesday.
"Moldova has not signed the $100 million agreement on assisting Transdniestria, in settlement of the debt for Russian gas supplies to that region," he said.
"Therefore, the further removal of military property is impossible, although technically we are prepared to do this in six to eight months," Isakov said.
According to him, 45 trains consisting of 20 cars each will be required to remove the property.
Only one train with ammunition and other military materiel has left Transdniestria for Russia this year, he said.
Isakov stressed that a political solution to the problem must be found. "The search for such a solution will be renewed in early December, when high-ranking officials of the OSCE mission in Moldova visit Moscow," he said.