Smirnov to allow Moldovan statesmen into Transnistria only if they give up bodyguards

“There is no sense to maintain the restriction for Moldovan statesmen to visit the Transnistrian Moldovan republic, except for the officials who, in accordance with the law, need protection and more special conditions to travel,” says the Tiraspol leader Igor Smirnov. Info-Prim Neo specifies the statement was made by Igor Smirnov after the Friday meeting with President Vladimir Voronin in Bender. After the meeting, the Moldovan Presidency disseminated a communiqué announcing „Transnistria’s leadership will cancel all the restrictions to travel between the Nistru’s two banks for all the representatives of Moldova’s leadership.” The leader from Tiraspol insisted he would lift off the travel restrictions on the East Bank for Moldovan dignitaries, only after President Voronin calls on the European Union to annul the restrictions in issuing visas for “Transnistria’s rulers.” The responsible for foreign policy in the Transnistrian area, Valery Litskai has stated for Agence France Presse it is too early to speak about the full revival of bilateral talks, frozen since 2006. The Moldovan President and the leader from Transnistria met, for the last time, in August 2001, and then Vladimir Voronin stated he would not meet anymore with what he described as „that bandit”. On Friday afternoon, President Voronin made statements in his quarters in Chisinau, but many reporters were not allowed in, on reason they were not included on a list. Chisinau-based TV stations showed pictures displaying President Voronin speaking before mikes with the logos of the TV stations M 1, NIT, N 4 and Euro TV.