The visit that is to be paid by the Russian foreign minister to Chisinau on November 22 brings a plus of visibility to Moldova at foreign level. Given the internal political situation, this visit strengthens the image of the current government, considers expert of the Foreign Policy Association Eugen Revenko. He stated for Info-Prim Neo that the visits paid by high-ranking Russian officials are often treated with distrust and fear by a part of society. These suspicions are explicable given the Moldovan-Russian war of 1992, the unwanted military presence and control (military occupation) by Russia of a part of the country’s territory, the creation and maintenance of the separatist administration in Tiraspol, which are condemned by the ECHR. ”The expected November 22 visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov can help resolve none of the aforementioned issues. It would be naivety to think that Russia’s political agenda – from Vladivostok to Kaliningrad or from Murmansk to Sochi – is dominated by the relations with Moldova and the situation in the Transnistrian region. The greatest trouble for Moldova would be to be neglected and forgotten. We somehow got used to the visits paid by such officials from the East and often exaggerate our role in international politics. From this perspective, the given visit brings a plus of image and visibility to Moldova,” said Eugen Revenko. He also said that the government program for 2011-2014 aims to establish a strategic partnership with Russia so as to settle the Transnistrian dispute. That’s why the visit paid by Minister Sergey Lavrov can be considered a contribution in this respect. The expert also said that Sergey Lavrov’s visit cannot hasten the resolution of the Transnistrian dispute in the current circumstances. “On the one hand, Moldova is in the process of forming the institutions of the power - the head of state is to be elected. The Transnistrian region is in the middle of the campaign preceding the presidential elections. Despite the condemnations by the ECHR, Russia claims to be unable to somehow influence the will and attitude of its people who hold high-ranking posts in Transnistria’s administration. Anyway, Russia has a confirmed status of mediator in the Transnistrian conflict settlement talks and has repeatedly expressed readiness to guarantee the solution that will be found,” said Eugen Revenko. According to him, it is not right to expect solutions to come from outside, making the discussions focus on the role and influence of foreign factors. The Moldovan authorities should develop their own instruments of influence in the region. “The elections in Transnistrian are a more sensitive issue. Will the Government of Moldova recognize them if the leader of the region is changed as a result of them? Consequently, the constitutional authorities will validate the whole electoral process and will recognize the electoral authority of the region,” stressed the expert. While in Chisinau, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet with Acting President Marian Lupu and Prime Minister Vlad Filat. There will be signed a number of bilateral cooperation agreements.