Rotation of Russian peacekeepers begins in Dniester region

CHISINEU, July 18 (Itar-Tass) - A planned rotation of the Russian
peacekeeping contingent and its equipment has begun in Moldova's Dniester region.
"The Russian motorized infantry battalion, which fulfilled
peacekeeping tasks during a year, is being withdrawn from the Joint
Peacekeeping Forces. It will be replaced by another battalion of the
Operative Group of Russian Troops in the Dniester region," the commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, Colonel Anatoly Zverev, told reporters.
He stressed that the rotation is going on a coordinated schedule, and delegations to the Joint Control Commission on Management of the
Peacekeeping Operation, as well as local authorities had been informed
about it.
The peacekeeping operation in the Dniester region was begun 16 years ago.
The Joint Peacekeeping Forces in the region include the contingents of Russia (385 military servicemen), Moldova (403 servicemen), the Dniester regions (411 servicemen), and ten military observers from Ukraine.
The peacekeepers serve at 14 unilateral and joint checkpoints.
One motorized infantry company is located in Dubossary, and the staff and other units of the Russian peacekeeping battalion are stationed in Bendery.
The Russian peacekeepers were moved into the area of the Dniester
conflict in 1992. This stopped a war, in which over 1,000 people died and tens of thousands were wounded or became refugees.
There have been no recurrences of violence in the region since then.
This provided to Chisineu and Tiraspol a possibility to negotiate on a peaceful settlement.