[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 15 (Monday, February 5, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E175-E176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            REMOVAL OF RUSSIAN MILITARY FORCES FROM MOLDOVA

                                 ______


                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 1, 1996

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, in October 1994 the Prime 
Minister of Russia and the Prime Minister of Moldova signed an 
agreement according to which Russian military forces would leave 
Moldovan territory by October 1997. Last April, the Russian Duma 
approved a resolution opposing the 3-year withdrawal agreement.
  The Russian Government has stated its intention to live up to the 
agreement but little progress has been made. At present about 4,000-
4,500 Russian troops stationed in as many as eight garrisons in eastern 
Moldova, known as Transdniestria. These are the vestiges of the former 
Soviet 14th Army which once had troops stationed throughout Moldova and 
the Odessa Military Region in Ukraine. The Russian Army has essentially 
maintained its force strength in the region, and troops have even been 
sent to Moldova to replace those that have been demobilized. Mr. 
Speaker, Moldova is the only former Soviet Republic upon which Russian 
troops are still stationed without permission of the host government, 
and Moldovan officials have raised this issue at several international 
meetings.
  Mr. Speaker, I would note that the administration has consistently 
supported the withdrawal of Russian forces from Moldova. During his 
meeting with Moldovan President Snegur last year, President Clinton 
made clear that the United States expects the 1994 agreement to be 
implemented on time.
  With respect to the international community, the Organization for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations have passed 
resolutions calling for the removal of 

[[Page E176]]
the Russian military forces. As part of the recent vote of the Council 
of Europe Parliamentary Assembly that recommended Russian accession to 
the Council of Europe, an amendment was included that Russia should 
ratify the October 1994 agreement within 6 months.
  In view of this situation, I--along with Mr. Wolf, Mr. Solomon, Mr. 
Hoyer, and Mr. Durbin--am introducing a resolution calling upon the 
Government of the Russian Federation to adhere to the provisions of the 
withdrawal agreement signed on October 21, 1994. The resolution further 
urges the Secretary of State to use every appropriate opportunity and 
means, including multilateral and bilateral diplomacy, to secure 
removal of Russian military forces from Moldova.
  In addition, this resolution calls upon Moldova's neighbors to 
recognize its territorial integrity and notes the efforts of the OSCE 
and the Government of Ukraine to assist in resolving issues that have 
arisen in Transdniestria, including the withdrawal of the Russian 
forces.
  Mr. Speaker, I would stress that this resolution does not ask the 
Russian Government to do anything to which it has not already agreed. 
It merely underscores the concern of Congress and the American people 
for the implementation of international law and for the easing of 
potential conflict in Europe.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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