The European Parliament delegation, which paid a working to the Republic of Moldova this week, expressed pity over an upset meeting with Transnistrian administration.

Ian Marinus Wiersma told the news conference that the delegation had gone to Tiraspol in accordance with an agreement reached earlier with the Transnistrian administration. However, none of officials came out to meet them there, so the delegation had to return to Chisinau.

"Perhaps, that happened due to some organizational slips. However, I am not ruling out that the Tiraspol regime reacts in such a way to the travel ban imposed by the European Union on 17 Tiraspol leaders", Mr. Wiersma said.

He stressed that although the EU does not recognize the self-styled Transnistrian republic's government, the Union is ready for negotiations with it, as questions have to be solved with somebody, anyway.

"Tiraspol has lost a good chance to discuss its problems with us. It has closed an important channel of communication with the European Parliament. This is causing regret. We have always been open to dialog with Igor Smirnov's administration", said the delegation head.

Majority MCP faction leader Victor Stepaniuk named the Tiraspol administration's behavior "offhanded".

"That case showed that we are dealing not just with a separatist, but also with a very offhanded regime. Isolated internationally, the separatists behave defiantly. This is proving once against that they do not want either federation or confederation. They want only one thing - to be recognized as an independent state in which they would be satisfying their personal interests", the ruling party's faction leader stated, adding, that, despite that scandal, the Moldovan leadership will continue efforts to settle the conflict democratically.

Chairman of the parliamentary Foreign Police Committee Mr. Andrei Neguta named the situation "comical". He pointed out that Ian Marinus Wiersma had found itself in the same shape as earlier President Voronin, who was not even let on the Transnistrian territory.

"I guess, now European parliamentarians have understood what the cost of our conflict settlement efforts is", he said.