The new Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Ambassador Louis O'Neill, called on the Transnistrian authorities to follow the latest Moldovan example and to cut its military capacity.

He made his statement on Tuesday at Bulboaca, the Instruction Centre of the Moldovan Armed Forces near Chisinau, after witnessing the destruction of their last Uragan 220 millimeter rockets.

"This is a compelling signal of confidence-building on behalf of the Moldovan Government", he said. "I therefore call on the Transnistrian authorities to likewise cut their military capability. There is no need and no place for heavy and offensive military equipment in this region", Ambassador O'Neill added.

The Ambassador, who replaced William Hill as Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova on 21 July, recalled that a year ago, on 12 July 2005, his predecessor had presented both the Government of Moldova and the Transnistrian authorities with a package of Arms Control and Confidence- and Security-Building Measures (CSBMs).

According to Moldovan Minister for Reintegration Vasile Sova, the Transnistrian region possesses artillery equipment and multiple launch rocket systems Grad.