The meeting between Prime Minister Vlad Filat and the Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov, which is to take place in Germany, is controversial, considers Acting President Marian Lupu. He said that this meeting is favorable for Igor Smirnov and his image, Info-Prim Neo reports. Marian Lupu said that this event has two aspects. The positive one is that there is still hope that the event can lead to the reopening of the official Transnistrian conflict settlement talks in the 5+2 format. “The negative aspect is that Igor Smirnov is a person who was never associated with a politician who wanted to break the deadlock in the Transnistrian dispute. He is in fact a political figure who remained alone. Even Russia abandoned him. This meeting held before the elections that are to take place in Transnistria can only favor Smirnov and help him promote his image. That’s why I think it is a controversial event,” said Marian Lupu. On September 9, Vlad Filat was to meet with Igor Smirnov in Germany, on the sidelines of a conference centering on the measures aimed at building confidence between Chisinau and Tiraspol, which was organized by the OSCE. Earlier, Vlad Filat told the press that they will discuss the resumption of the official talks in the 5+2 format, the release of Ilie Cazac who was sentenced to 14 years in jail by the unconstitutional authorities, and the restoration of the freight train routes.