Newsroom
Peacekeepers begin withdrawal of armoured vehicles in Moldova
CHISINAU 14 August 2003
CHISINAU, 14 August 2003 - Moldovan and Transdniestrian military forces today took their first demilitarization steps in many years by together withdrawing 37 armoured vehicles from the Security Zone, the area separating the two sides since the end of the 1992 conflict. A further 34 armoured units are slated for removal on August 21-22.
"We welcome these withdrawals as significant confidence-building steps between the two sides," said the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Neil Brennan, who was on hand for the first withdrawals.
"The OSCE will make every effort to support these steps toward greater transparency and military co-operation between the two sides, as these are essential tasks toward the overall reunification of Moldova," he added.
The armoured vehicles were held by contingents of peacekeepers from the two sides, who serve with Russian forces in the tripartite peacekeeping operation, in place since 1992. On 14 August Moldovan peacekeeping forces in Cocieri, on the left bank, withdrew 17 armoured vehicles almost 140 kilometres to the City of Balti. At the same time, Transdniestrian peacekeeping forces in Dubossari removed 20 vehicles to bases outside the Security Zone. A further 23 Moldovan and 11 Transdniestrian armoured units will be taken from the Zone on 21 and 22 August.
The demilitarization effort is in accordance with an agreement brokered by the Head of the OSCE Mission, William Hill, on 1 August, after a dispute between the two sides over implementation of an earlier agreement on removal. A protocol was agreed on the current removal, and on the need for future confidence-building steps toward increasing military transparency between the two sides.
The question of armoured vehicles has plagued the Joint Control Commission since the beginning, as the two sides view such equipment held by their peacekeeping forces as tactically advantageous. In April 2001 OSCE military specialists concluded that there is no operational peacekeeping necessity for heavy armoured vehicles to be deployed either at Joint Peacekeeping Force posts, check points or units of either Transdniestria or Moldova. Since that report was issued no concrete progress was made on the removal of the armour until today.
Three teams of Mission personnel observed the first stage of the removal process. All further removals will also be observed by the OSCE Mission.
"We welcome these withdrawals as significant confidence-building steps between the two sides," said the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Neil Brennan, who was on hand for the first withdrawals.
"The OSCE will make every effort to support these steps toward greater transparency and military co-operation between the two sides, as these are essential tasks toward the overall reunification of Moldova," he added.
The armoured vehicles were held by contingents of peacekeepers from the two sides, who serve with Russian forces in the tripartite peacekeeping operation, in place since 1992. On 14 August Moldovan peacekeeping forces in Cocieri, on the left bank, withdrew 17 armoured vehicles almost 140 kilometres to the City of Balti. At the same time, Transdniestrian peacekeeping forces in Dubossari removed 20 vehicles to bases outside the Security Zone. A further 23 Moldovan and 11 Transdniestrian armoured units will be taken from the Zone on 21 and 22 August.
The demilitarization effort is in accordance with an agreement brokered by the Head of the OSCE Mission, William Hill, on 1 August, after a dispute between the two sides over implementation of an earlier agreement on removal. A protocol was agreed on the current removal, and on the need for future confidence-building steps toward increasing military transparency between the two sides.
The question of armoured vehicles has plagued the Joint Control Commission since the beginning, as the two sides view such equipment held by their peacekeeping forces as tactically advantageous. In April 2001 OSCE military specialists concluded that there is no operational peacekeeping necessity for heavy armoured vehicles to be deployed either at Joint Peacekeeping Force posts, check points or units of either Transdniestria or Moldova. Since that report was issued no concrete progress was made on the removal of the armour until today.
Three teams of Mission personnel observed the first stage of the removal process. All further removals will also be observed by the OSCE Mission.