Despite peace agreements, the 1991-1992
conflict between the Moldovan government and separatist elements
in the Transdniestr region remain unresolved, and in effect
the government has no jurisdiction in Transdniestr. There are
43,000 registered firearms but with over 15,000 troops and
a further 50,000 Transdniestr reservists, the total number
of SALW in the country is much higher. Over 90% of firearms-assisted
crimes are with unregistered firearms.
The Transdniestr-Ukraine border is not subject to border or arms control agreements,
and illicit trade in arms is a major source of revenue for the regime, with
weapons smuggled to Abkhazia, Georgia and Chechnya. Russian troops help to
keep peace in a security zone home to thousands of separatists, and although
the Russian government is thought to have armed the separatists in the past,
it intended to destroy 40,000 SALW by the end of 2003; this plan has been blocked
by the Transdniestr government. A planned OSCE/SEESAC Black Sea conference
might help restart the collection project.
Organisations
UNDP
Moldova
OSCE
Moldova
SEESAC
Moldova
Other links
2002
press release on the Partnership for Peace (PfP)
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