Leanca, Lavrov agree to strengthen high-level Moldovan-Russian political dialogue

Russia is an important partner in the Transnistrian conflict settlement process, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Iurie Leanca said in a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. The Moldovan official approved of the more active involvement of the international partners in the identification of optimal methods of resolving the dispute, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a communiqué from the Foreign Ministry of Moldova. According to the communiqué, the two ministers discussed topical issued concerning the bilateral and international relations. Iurie Leanca reiterated the necessity of finishing the pullout of the Russian munitions from the Transnistrian region and of transforming the current peacekeeping operation into an internationally-mandated multinational mission. The officials agreed to strengthen the high-level bilateral political dialogue and to continue the cooperation between the ministries by signing a plan of interministerial consultations for 2011. The ministers also signed the program of cooperation for 2011-2013. Iurie Leanca paid a visit to Moscow before the tenth anniversary of the signing of the friendship and cooperation treaty between Moldova and Russia and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Sergei Lavrov accepted Moldovan minister’s invitation to visit Moldova.