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Political reasons delay Russian withdrawal from Transdnestr - ambassador

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MOSCOW, August 31 (RIA Novosti) - The withdrawal of Russian troops from Transdnestr, a self-proclaimed republic in Moldova, has been delayed for political reasons related to the situation in the region, a senior Russian diplomat said Wednesday.

"The reasons for the delay concern the real situation in the region rather than Russia's position," said Valery Nesterushkin, a Russian Foreign Ministry ambassador at large.

The diplomat said various documents that had been drafted within the framework of a common European process to solve the problem always contained a frequently forgotten provision that Russia assumed obligations to implement the so-called Istanbul agreements if the necessary conditions were in place.

"The conflicting parties were supposed to conduct a proactive political dialogue to overcome the state of permanent confrontation and build up elementary mutual confidence," Nesterushkin explained.

"In such conditions, it would have been much easier for Russia to withdraw its remaining property, which is mainly ammunition stored in Transdnestr since the end of World War II," he added.

The diplomat said it was no secret that there was no military equipment restricted by existing agreements in the region, because Russia had fulfilled its relevant commitments ahead of schedule. "What is left is a huge stock of ammunition, which is both diverse in terms of its types and condition, and belonged to the 14th army," Nesterushkin said.

After the signing of the Kozak Memorandum, a document to resolve the situation drafted in 2003 by Deputy Chief of the Kremlin Staff Dmitry Kozak, was blocked, he continued, the Transdnestr authorities came to object to Russia's withdrawing its property again. As it is based in Transdnestr, the ammunition cannot be removed without the local authorities' consent, because undesired and dangerous complications could ensue.

Nesterushkin said the initiative to send Western marines to Transdnestr to solve the problem was unacceptable.

"If we manage to allay Tiraspol's fears that its opinions will not be considered and that it will be forced to accept some or other terms after the arsenal is withdrawn, there will be no problems with the withdrawal," the diplomat said.

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