Today, man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAMs), which are part of the military equipment of the Operational Group of Russian troops stationed in the region, were delivered from Transnistria to Russia on two Il-76 military transport aircraft. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the airlift from Transnistria to Russia of this type of weapons and ammunition is intended to thwart possible terrorist plans to seize MANPADS and missiles.

However, the Transnistrian authorities believe that after official Chisinau’s failure to sign the Memorandum of Transnistrian settlement presented by the Russian Federation, which could have realized the federal idea and put an end to the confrontation, the process of curtailing the military presence of the Russian guarantor country seems unacceptable, threatening the preservation of peace and stability in the region.

Earlier today it was reported that the Transnistrian authorities suspended the removal from the region of ammunition stored in the village of Kolbasna of the operational group of Russian troops, declaring that they would not allow their evacuation until at least January 8, 2004. It is planned that on this day the leader of Transnistria, Igor Smirnov, will make an official statement explaining the motives for blocking the removal of ammunition and Tiraspol’s view on the prospects for resolving the Transnistrian conflict.

According to the Minister of Reintegration of Moldova Vasily Shov, the suspension by the Transnistrian authorities of the process of removing Russian ammunition from the region is exacerbating the already difficult situation in this region. The minister noted that these steps do not increase the level of trust between the parties and significantly complicate the negotiation process between Chisinau and Tiraspol on the Transnistrian settlement.

At the same time, as President of Moldova Vladimir Voronin said today, the Transnistrian problem cannot be solved by the “blitzkrieg” method, with a quick and stunning effect. This is how he commented on Moldova’s refusal to sign the memorandum presented by Russia on the Transnistrian settlement.

The head of state noted that in the context of the mutual geopolitical ambitions of a number of great powers, the competition of military and peacekeeping presence in the Transnistrian region, Moldova will not agree to accept schemes for resolving the Transnistrian conflict that exclude the possibility of achieving an international consensus on these issues between mediators Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE, and also the European Union and the USA. According to the president, only in a situation of agreement between them will a renewed, reintegrated Moldova win, which will be able to prove to the entire international community that it is truly an independent, democratic state.

The head of the Moldovan state emphasized that official Chisinau is preparing its draft proposals for the Transnistrian settlement, which will be based on the above principles. According to V. Voronin, the future constitution of the federation being created should become the constitution of a European, modernized state.

Russia is exporting its anti-aircraft weapons from Transnistria