Moldovan President Proposes Talks With Russia, Transdniester

CHISINAU –- Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin has said he would like to hold a three-way meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and separatist leader Igor Smirnov concerning the breakaway Transdniester region.

Voronin made the remark in an interview on February 24 with the Russian radio station Ekho Moskvy, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.

The meeting would take place before Moldova's April parliamentary elections.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a recent meeting between Voronin and Smirnov is evidence that a bilateral solution for Moldova's "frozen conflict" is possible with Russian mediation.

Russia and the separatists have not yet commented on Voronin's remark about a possible early three-way meeting.