Chisinau, Tiraspol blame each other for failing to meet

Chisinau and Tiraspol blame each other for the failed intent to organize a reunion of the Moldovan President, Vladimir Voronin, with Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Reintegration Ministry issues a statement reading it is confused with Tiraspol's recent statement concerning this issue. Chisinau reminds that, according to the preliminary agreements, they agreed the two leaders should meet this week, as experts were to establish the venue and the day. “Unfortunately, the Tiraspol representatives have tergiversated the process from the very beginning, invoking different excuses and having an attitude lacking constructivism during consultations. All the possible variants proposed by Chisinau have been rejected, what demonstrates the lack of will to coordinate a solution on the basis of a compromise,” reads the communique of the Reintegration Ministry. The Chisinau officials say that the possibility of arresting someone from the Tiraspol authorities “lack any ground and seem absurd”, after Tiraspol reasoned that the penal suit against leader Smirnov is still on. The Moldovan authorities reiterate their availability to continue the direct contacts with the Tiraspol officials, including within the present format of talks, and within working groups meant to to enhance the trust in the wake of finding a viable solution for the Transnistrian conflict. The foreign department from Tiraspol is quoted by Olvia-press as stating that the meeting of the two leaders was canceled because of the Moldovan side. “During the consultations, the Transnistrian representatives proposed that the meeting should take place on September 18 or 19, and then on 22. The Moldovan side rejected those proposals every time, reasoning that the Moldovan President is busy on those days. Igor Smirnov later proposed that the meeting should take place on September 24-25 in Bender, but the Moldovan side suggested Anenii Noi. This approach does not corresponds to the parameters of the initially coordinated meeting,” Transnistria's foreign department states. Vladimir Voronin and Igor Smirnov were to meet to make closer the positions of the two sides as to resuming the talks in the “5+2” format and as to promoting the trust-building measures between the two banks of the Nistru.