MOLDOVAN PRIME MINISTER GIVES ADVICE TO RUSSIAN DEPUTY PREMIER

Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca has offered advice to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin – to focus on creating conditions for resolving the Transnistrian problem in conformity with the Russian Federation’s official position and within the framework of the plenary powers which Mr. Rogozin has as the Russian President’s Special Representative on Transnistria.   

Commenting Rogozin’s recent statements made in Brussels – that the Association Agreement initialing in Vilnius may lead to defrosting of the Transnistrian conflict, Iurie Leanca stated to the press here on Wednesday evening that the statements and behavior of the high Russian official should be well within the official position of the Russian Federation.    

“Rogozin is not supposed to measure the temperature – situation frozen or situation being de-frosted. We are more concerned about how to resolve current problems, and how to settle the key question – a status for Transnistria. And we are counting on Russia’s constructive stance on the issue”, said Leanca.   

As already reported by Infotag, on Tuesday Dmitry Rogozin stated in the Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations that without consultations with Transnistria, the association with the European Union will indeed lead to a further weakening of the Moldovan statehood.    

“If Ukraine and Moldova enter the zone of free trade with EU, this will lead to full economic blockade of Transnistria. We all must mobilize maximum of our vigilance and wisdom to prevent aggravation of tension in frosted conflict zones. Russia has many a time called upon Chisinau to include Transnistria into negotiations with the European Union. Transnistria has a population of 500 thousand, of whom some 200 thousand are citizens of Russia and 70 thousand – of Ukraine”, reminded the Russian Deputy Prime Minister.