OSCE mission greets dialog between Moldova’s President and Transnistria’s leader

The head of the OSCE mission to Moldova, ambassador Philip Remler, welcomes the resumption of the direct dialog between Moldova’s President Vladimir Voronin and Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov, Info-Prim Neo reports. “This meeting was a first step, that could pave the path to re-start the settlement talks in the 5+2 format, and to forming working groups to develop measures of confidence-building,” said the ambassador in a communiqué. The OSCE ambassador praised the two leaders for the political will they displayed. Vladimir Voronin and Igor Smirnov met on Friday, April 11, in Bender for the first time in 7 years. Vladimir Voronin said he would call on the EU and the USA to cancel the ban on issuing visas for Transnistria’s leaders. According to Igor Smirnov, Transnistria’s leadership annuls the travel restrictions between the two banks of the Nistru for the representatives of the Moldovan leadership, specifies a communiqué issued by the Chisinau Presidency. According to the same source, Vladimir Voronin and Igor Smirnov have agreed to immediately convene the working groups to develop measures to strengthen the trust between Chisinau and Tiraspol. These groups are to come up with projects concerning the development of infrastructure, construction of roads, security and disarmament areas, the social, cultural and humanitarian spheres. The President of the Republic of Moldova Vladimir Voronin and Transnistria’s Leader Igor Smirnov have agreed to continue such meetings to gradually solve all the problems having gathered between Chisinau and Tiraspol, the release adds up.