Moldovan Foreign Ministry asks Russia not to attempt to accredit legitimacy to Tiraspol regime

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova issued a statement in response to the Russian Foreign Ministry's informative note about the meeting of Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov and leader of the Transdniestrian region Igor Smirnov. The Moldovan Ministry says it is bewildered at the use by the Russian state institutions of the name ‘president’ or ‘minister of foreign affairs’ to represent secessionist entities that are not recognized by the Republic of Moldova, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Moldovan Foreign Ministry expresses hopes that the Russian side will not use such an inadequate language anymore as this can mislead the public opinion and the international community and arouse suspicion as regards Russia’s impartiality and constructivism as mediator in the Transdniestrian settlement talks. According to the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, at the meeting with the leader of the breakaway republic of Transdniestria Igor Smirnov on February 20, Sergey Lavrov said Moscow will continue making effort and providing assistance in restoring the confidence and avoiding further confrontation between Chisinau and Tiraspol. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, it would be a step forward if the Moldovan side and the mediators backed the temporary compromise solutions proposed by Transdniestria to the customs and transport problems that arose in March 2006, as this would really provide suitable conditions for resuming the Transdniestria conflict settlement talks in compliance with the agreements reached earlier by the parties and with the participation of international mediators