Filat asks Lupu to retract statement on Smirnov meeting

Prime Minister Vlad Filat is requesting that acting President Marian Lupu retract his statement about the PR-nature of the meeting held with Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov, Info-Prim Neo reports. “I would like to remind Mr. Lupu that the issue of the country's reintegration is not a problem related to the interest of a political party or of a person. This problem concerns entire Moldova, regardless of who is in government. This is why I publicly ask Mr. Lupu to retract his statement, because it harms the Transnistrian settlement process and is offensive for those who worked hard and contributed earnestly for this event to happen”, stated Vlad Filat. The premier recalled that the meeting in Germany was brokered by the OSCE and also involved foreign negotiators. “This event originated from the sincere wish of our partners to help us. And when such statements are made in Chisinau, I find it to be a regrettable and cynical approach”. Marian Lupu told a Friday news conference that “this event, which takes place on the eve of so-called elections on the eastern side of the Nistru, favors no one but Smirnov, making PR in his favor”. OSCE organized during September 6-8 an international conference, on the margins of which Vlad Filat had the opportunity to engage in an informal conversation with the Transnistrian leader and discuss confidence-building issues.