The United States urges Russia to withdraw its troops and weapons from Transnistria

The United States urges Russia to withdraw its troops and weapons from Transnistria, John Tefft, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said at a news conference in Chisinau. He said Washington insisted that Russia fulfill its international obligations regarding the withdrawal of troops, in accordance with agreements reached at OSCE summits in Istanbul and Porto. Mr. Tefft stressed that the Transnistrian conflict could only be solved through an internationally recognized settlement based on principles of democracy and respect for Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. According to Mr. Tefft, the United States supported the declaration of stability and security for Moldova proposed by Moldovan President Mikhail Voronin. He said the US administration saw this document as a potentially positive step that could help settle the Transnistrian conflict. Mr. Tefft expressed hope that the declaration could be signed at the next OSCE summit in Sofia, which would provide an impetus for talks between Moldova and Transnistria. At an OSCE summit in Istanbul in 1999, Russia undertook to withdraw its troops from Georgia and Transnistria by 2002. Now, NATO demands that Russia fulfill these obligations. However, Russia, concerned with NATO’s military activity along the perimeter of Russia’s borders, does not hurry to withdraw troops.