Moscow suspects Moldova Republic of double play

Luni, 18 februarie 2008, 13:42 English | Regional Europe

Russia is ready to withdraw its peacekeeping troups from the breakaway Transniester region if the Republic of Moldova can guarantee that it would not join NATO, Nezavissimaya Gazeta reads in an analysis published on Monday. Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin visited Moscow in January and various rumors sprang out following the visit.

A Russian Foreign ministry source quoted by the newspaper said after Voronin's visit that there were no secret agreements between the two countries. He added that Russia's only goal was to maintain peace and security in the region in order to promote economic development.

The Russian newspaper quotes inside sources arguing that the EU, NATO, Russia and the US need to offer guarantees that Moldova would remain neutral and independent. Moreover, the two countries established several trust measures to be taken by both Tiraspol, the capital of the self-proclaimed Transniester Republic, and Chisinau.