The Moldovan Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia, Vasile Sturza, stated to journalists after the yesterday's consultations, "during the forthcoming visit of President Vladimir Voronin to Moscow, the sides will discuss the entire spectrum of the bilateral Moldo-Russian relations".

Sturza said that at the consultations, an emphasis was placed on preparation to the President's visit to the Russian Federation. Among other questions discussed were the situation on the Moldo-Ukrainian border after the new customs rules imposition, and Russia's negative reaction to the border/customs measures taken by Moldova and Ukraine to establish control on the border.

Ambassador Sturza confirmed Chisinau is preparing Voronin's working visit to Moscow, but could not tell at least an approximate date of it. He only said, "We are actively working both in Moscow and here to prepare the visit. This should be a full-bodied visit that would alleviate tension in our relations and would accelerate our traditional friendly ties".

He said the entire spectrum of the Moldo-Russian relations was discussed at the consultations.

"The ongoing developments on the Moldo-Ukrainian border are viewed in Chisinau and Moscow differently. In our belief, the new customs regime introduction was a correct step, and it will eventually settle everything", Vasile Sturza said.

As was already reported by Infotag, last Monday the Russian Ambassador to Moldova, Nikolai Ryabov, stated at his news conference that the new regime is regarded by the Russian side as a political action conceived and planned in advance. He laid the entire responsibility for its aftermath on the Governments of Moldova and Ukraine, having accused them of an economic blockade of Transnistria, and of stirring up a humanitarian catastrophe in the Transnistrian region.

Nikolai Ryabov also made it perfectly clear that Voronin's visit to Moscow can only be possible upon solution of all existing problems, including the present new situation in Transnistria.