On April 11, 2008 President of the Moldovan Republic Vladimir Voronin and Transdniester leader Igor Smirnov sat down for talks for the first time since August 2001 in Bender, Transdniester’s second largest city, reported Interlic news agency using information from the press office of the Moldovan president. During the course of the meetings, the two leaders spoke about developing further dialogue between Chisinau and Tiraspol and set out concrete steps for moving forward with peace talks. They also agreed to immediately convene joint working groups to build trust between the two parties focusing on concrete projects in infrastructure, transportation, security and disarmament. As reported by the news source, Vladimir Voronin said Moldova will turn to the European Union and the United States with an initiative to lift visa restrictions for members of Transdniester’s leadership. On his end, Igor Smirnov promised to lift restrictions on movement between the two banks of the Dniestr River for all members of the Moldovan government. Voronin and Smirnov last met on August 8, 2001. All subsequent years, negotiations between the conflicting sides were only held in the 5+2 format, in the absence of the two leaders. However, the 5+2 talks were suspended in February 2006.

This information was originally published on April 11, 2008. (www.interlic.md)