Tiraspol leader Igor Smirnov has banned the access into the Transnistria area for officials from European Union (EU) and the United States of America, RIA Novosti is quoted by Info-Prim Neo as reporting. “This interdiction refers exclusively to the officials of the EU and the USA and won't be applied on European and American citizens," said a source from Igor Smirnov's administration. According to him, the decision was made as a response to the visa interdictions introduced for certain Transnistrian officials. On Monday, February 16, the EU Council of Ministers prolonged with 12 months till February 27, 2010, “the restricting measures” concerning 19 Transnistrian leaders, among which Igor Smirnov and his two sons – the customs chief Vladimir Smirnov and the leader of the Patriotic Party Oleg Smirnov. According to Brussels, these persons are directly responsible for the lack of progress in settling the Transnistrian conflict and are accused of orchestrating the closure of Romanian speaking schools in the area. Info-Prim Neo's correspondent in Tiraspol specifies that the area's foreign minister but “reserve sits right to undertake response measures, needed to protect the sovereignty and independence, the security and the social stability from the attempts of interference into the domestic affairs. The foreign ministry reminds that the issue of banning the access of foreign citizens, including the employees of the diplomatic corps, into the territory of a state because of public order reasons is seen as the sovereign power of each state in the international practice.”