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Visiting Romanian President Traian Basescu on Wednesday argued for a more active involvement of the European Union and the United States in the talks on a settlement to Transnistria conflict. The fact that the Russian Federation's technical and human resources are stationed in Transnistria's territory is not likely to ease settling the conflict, Basescu told a joint news conference with Moldovan counterpart Mihai Ghimpu.
'I believe the EU and the U.S. should play a more important role in the 5+2 talks', the Romanian leader said, adding the Republic of Moldova should have control of its entire territory. Moldovan interim President Ghimpu stressed that the Transnistria issue cannot be settled as long as the Russian army is stationed in his country's territory.
'The settlement will not be successful as long as the Russian Federation's army, weapons and ammunition are present in the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The army must withdraw, we must start making the society democratic, demilitarising the area and the day will come when this problem too will be solved', he said.
According to Agerpres correspondent, Ghimpu slammed recent remarks made by Russian deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin during a visit to Chisinau that the Russian army will stay in Transnistria until a decision is made on the region's status.
'It is wrong policy, since the status is an internal affair, while the army is a foreign affair. Moldova has a status of neutrality, but there also are commitments made in Istanbul in 1999, so that the Russian Federation should comply', Ghimpu said.
The Moldovan president stressed that Chisinau sees a settlement to the issue of Transnistria by peaceful means only, as part of the 5+2 talks.
The Republic of Moldova's Transnistria region controlled by a pro-Russian breakaway rule shelters - according to some sources - about 20,000 to 40,000 tonnes of weapons and ammunition guarded by a contingent of Russian troops. Russia pledged as far back as in 1999 to withdraw its ammunition from Moldova's territory, which however it failed to do. Experts and politicians argue that the presence of the Russian troops and ammunition in the region is one of the main reasons that prevent the settlement of Transnistria conflict.
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