Medvedev to meet with Transnistria separatist leader

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will meet with Transnistria's separatist leader Igor Smirnov. An official delegation headed by Deputy Secretary of Russia's Security Council Yuri Zubakov paid a visit on Wednesday, June 18, to Tiraspol to make arrangements for the meeting, Info-Prim Neo reports, citing Transnistrian news agency “Olvia-press”. The date for the meeting hasn't been yet determined, but Zubakov is confident the meeting will take place sometime this year. “We must prepare the meeting together so that it could be beneficial for all of us. The meeting must give a new impetus to the settlement of all the accumulated problems”, said Zubakov. During the meeting between Smirnov and the Russian delegation, there were discussed problems related to the social and economic situation in the region and prospects for the settlement of the Transnistrian dispute. “We have agreed that all the economic problems that affect the lives of the people (in Transnistria - e.n.) will be examined in the five-plus-two format. A similar understanding has been reached with Ukraine as well. The work in this format will help us find more effective solutions to such issues as rail transport and environment”, Smirnov explained. “Such an approach is needed because the joint expert groups from Moldova and Transnistria haven't even been able to start working. We'll be grateful to Russia if the deadlock in the settlement process is broken”, Smirnov was quoted by Olvia-press as saying.