Dodon may have 3rd meeting with Transdniestrian leader in April
CHISINAU. March 30 (Interfax) - Moldovan President Igor Dodon may meet with the leader of the unrecognized Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic, Vadim Krasnoselsky, in April, a representative of the Moldovan president's administration told Interfax on Friday.
"The meeting is necessary, considering that many important events have taken place since the last meeting between the leaders from the two banks of the Dniester. They need to compare positions in order to move on and make progress for the benefit of people on both banks of the Dniester," the representative said.
Four protocols were signed last year thanks to Dodon's efforts to "solve important social problems," the representative said.
"The problems were named at the meeting Igor Dodon and Vadim Krasnoselsky had precisely one year ago, on March 30, 2017. A lot of time has passed, and the documents that were signed are being implemented. There is a need to set new objectives," the representative said.
The agenda of the meeting, "which will definitely take place in April before the May round of the 5+2 negotiations," is being elaborated, the representative said.
The Transdniestrian Foreign Minister and negotiator, Vitaly Ignatyev, said at the Thursday meeting of the ministry's civil expert council that Krasnoselsky might meet with Dodon in the near future.
Both Dodon and Krasnoselsky won elections in late 2016. They met in Bender in early January 2017. The second meeting was held at the countryside residence of the Moldovan president, Holercani, on the Dniester River on March 30, 2017.
It was agreed to have a third meeting in May, but that did not happen. The next meeting was scheduled to take place on July 29 with the participation of Russia's Special Envoy for Transdniestria, Dmitry Rogozin. However, the Moldovan government declared Rogozin persona non grata, he was barred from visiting Moldova, and the meeting never happened.
Relations between Dodon and Krasnoselsky worsened after that. The Moldovan president said in several interviews that "Transdniestria could not help but integrate into Moldova." He also accused the Transdniestrian administration of stealing the money it gets from Russia.
In turn, Krasnoselsky said that his side "should negotiate with those in Chisinau who can make decisions, while Igor Dodon decides nothing in Moldova."
Dodon went on to hold several meetings with the leader of the Transdniestrian Communist Party, Oleg Horjan, which drew condemnation from the Transdniestrian presidential administration.