CHISINAU. Nov 14 (Interfax) - Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca has urged Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin to concentrate on the Transdniestrian peace process instead of "taking the temperature" of that conflict.
Rogozin suggested that "the possible initialing of the Moldova-EU association agreement at the Eastern Partnership Vilnius summit in late November might "unfreeze" the Transdniestrian conflict."
"As far as I know, Dmitry Rogozin has been instructed to create conditions for settling the Transdniestrian conflict in line with the official position of Russia and the powers vested in him as the special representative of the Russian president for Transdniestria. Rogozin is not supposed to take the temperature: whether [the conflict] is frozen or defrosting. We are much more concerned about solutions to current problems and the main problem of the status of Transdniestria. We count on the constructive position of Russia in this matter," Leanca said.
Speaking at the EGMONT Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels earlier this week, Rogozin said that the Moldova-EU association done without consultations with Transdniestria would weaken the Moldovan statehood.
"The possible accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the EU free trade zone will lead to a complete economic blockade of Transdniestria. All of us must be wise and reasonable in order to prevent escalation of tensions in frozen conflict zones. Russia has repeatedly asked Chisinau to involve Transdniestria in its negotiations with the European Union. Transdniestria has a population of 500,000, including 200,000 citizens of Russia and 70,000 citizens of Ukraine," Rogozin said.