Moldova: President, Separatist Leader, Discuss Relations

Prague, 26 May 1997 (RFE/RL) -- Moldovan President Petru Lucinschi and the leader of the separatist breakaway Transdniester region, Igor Smirnov, met in Chisinau over the weekend to discuss the implementation of the memorandum signed by the two sides in Moscow on May 8.

An RFE/RL correspondent in Chisinau reports that they agreed on a protocol dealing with the economic aspects of their relations. They also agreed to set up several joint groups of experts, which are to begin work on June 4.

One of them is to work on drafting a special status for the breakaway region, even though Tiraspol continues to claim it is an independent state.

The groups of experts will also discuss security arrangements in the Dniester river area where the two sides' armed forces face one another.