CHISINAU, Moldova - Moldova ordered Russia on Thursday to withdraw 1,500 troops stationed in a separatist eastern region for the past two decades.

Interim President Mihai Ghimpu told Moscow to "unconditionally, urgently and transparently," take the troops out of Trans-Dniester — marking the first time a Moldovan leader has directly urged Russia to remove its troops. Troops were moved there in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed.

However, on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Poland and Russia backed a proposal for a joint European Union-Russia security committee to resolve regional crises. The Trans-Dniester conflict was mentioned as a first problem that could be addressed.

The proposed new forum, called the EU-Russia Political and Security Committee, would work on the ministerial level, with the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in charge.

Associated Press