April 26 (SeeNews) - Moldova has raised security alert at some critical institutions and is open to peaceful, diplomatic dialogue, president Maia Sandu said on Tuesday, after explosions were reported in the breakaway region of Transnistria controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
"We condemn any challenges and attempts to lure the Republic of Moldova into actions that could jeopardize peace in the country. Chisinau continues to insist on a peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict," Sandu said during a live-streamed press briefing following a meeting of the country's Supreme Security Council meeting.
"Our analysis, at this point in time, shows that there are tensions among various forces within the region interested in destabilizing the situation. This makes the Transnistrian region vulnerable and poses risks to the Republic of Moldova."
The president stressed that Moldova does not plan a blockade of Transnistria, a strip of land between the Dniester river and Moldova's eastern border with Ukraine. After a violent separation of the region from Moldova in 1992, Russia stationed several thousand troops there to support the separatist republic.
"We remain open to continue the dialogue for the settlement of the conflict in the region in a peaceful, diplomatically negotiated manner, which will give the people of Moldova, including those in the Transnistrian region, a chance for a peaceful and prosperous life," Sandu said.
The Supreme Security Council recommended to public institutions to increase the intensity of traffic checks in the vicinity of the security zone, the intensity of patrols and checks on Moldova's territory and at the borders, to increase the level of alert at critical pieces of infrastructure and to raise the level of alert at all institutions responsible for ensuring public order and security, Sandu said.
The president called for calm and urged the media, opinion leaders, social and political leaders to behave responsibly during this period, to distribute verified information only and to avoid using emotional manipulation for the sake of higher rating.
On Monday, the Moldovan government said that blasts in and near Tiraspol, the administrative centre of Transnistria, are an attempt to heighten tensions in the country's breakaway region which is bordering Ukraine to the east.
"The aim of today's incident is to create pretexts for straining the security situation in the Transnistrian region, which is not controlled by the constitutional authorities," Moldovan Office for Reintegration, a government institution tasked with carrying out the negotiation process with the separatist-controlled region, said in a press release.
"In this context, the Office for Reintegration Policy calls for calm and, together with the relevant national institutions, is monitoring developments."
According to the reintegration office, unidentified people fired grenade launchers at the headquarters of the building housing the security services of the region and there were no casualties or injuries, according to preliminary data.
Moldovan media reported on Tuesday that two explosions were heard at a radio tower close to the border with Ukraine and two antennas were knocked out of service.
In March, Maia Sandu reiterated a call for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria and asked for a peaceful resolution of the conflict - a day after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe designated the region as a territory occupied by Russia.
Transnistria held a referendum in 2006 which showed that a broad majority of the 470,000-strong population of the region supports independence from Moldova and adherence to the Russian Federation. The results of the referendum were not recognised by the international community.
In March, Moldova applied for membership in the European Union. The country is in a state of emergency since February 24, when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.