Tiraspol gives up moratorium on relationships with Chisinau officials

Following the instruction of the Tiraspol leader Igor Smirnov, the would-be ministry of foreign affairs from Tiraspol announced Friday it gave up its moratorium on the contacts with the Moldovan authorities and its availability to continue to cooperate on social-economic issues of common interest, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a statement of the Tiraspol ministry. “The Moldovan Government's statement of giving up its intentions to settle, by force, the Moldo-Transnistrian relationships is an important step which should later get a legal frame,” the Transnistrian authorities reason their decision. An important role is granted to the position of the Russian Federation, outlined at the meeting between the Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and Igor Smirnov. “The Russian side has confirmed its availability to contribute in the future to a constructive dialog and equal in rights of the sides in conflict. We hope the Moldovan side will observe Russia's role as a mediator,” reads the statements of the Transnistrian entity responsible for external relations. Tiraspol instituted its s-called moratorium on August 12, reasoning through the lack of a reaction towards Moldova's partner in GUAM – Georgia's “aggression.”