Eurasia Press & News
The leader of Transdnestr, Igor Smirnov, has for the first time invited Moldovan President Vladimir Filat to visit Moldova’s breakaway republic for an official meeting, the Transdnestr Foreign Ministry reported.
The ministry said Smirnov’s invitation was handed by Trandnestr Foreign Minister Vladimir Yastrebchak to Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Yevgeny Karpov in Vienna on Tuesday during informal “five-plus-two” consultations.
The Russian-speaking province of Transdnestr has maintained de facto independence from Moldova since a brief war in 1992, which erupted from a buildup of tensions following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Tiraspol insists on independence, and even integration with Russia, while Chisinau says it is willing only to give Transdnestr autonomy within Moldova.
