According to him, there are several reasons why Tiraspol opposes the Russian military equipment withdrawal. In particular, Moldavia's President Vladimir Voronin has not signed the Memorandum on settling Transdniestria's problem, which outlines the post-conflict safeguards system. Kishinev also impedes writing-down of Transdniestria's debt for gas supplies amounting to US$100,000,000. Besides, according to General Sergeev, Tiraspol demands that the Moldavian authorities should be influenced in order to lift the economic blockade.
"Settlement of at least one of these issues would resume the withdrawal of ammunition, property and weapons", added the general.
Mr. Sergeev briefed the diplomats on what the Russian task force was. According to him, it does not have a single tank, a single infantry fighting vehicle or a single air defense system. The strength of the task force has reduced from 7,500 to 1,500 since 1995.
"Reduction of the task force strength, in my view and in the opinion of Russia's leadership, is inadvisable yet, because it may ruin the current reliable system of peacekeeping, security and maintenance of the available armaments, ammunition and property", explained General Sergeev.
(Russia undertook commitments to withdraw its troops, armaments and ammunition from Transdniestria in compliance with the Istanbul agreements of 1999. However, several technical reasons hamper its accomplishment within the scheduled time. As for Transdniestria's residents, they do not recognize the Istanbul agreements saying: "The Russian army was brought here neither by Yeltsin, or Stalin or even Lenin, but by famous Russian commander Alexander Suvorov in 1970 during the Russian-Turkish war. So let him be the one to withdraw it.)
