MOLDOVA-RUSSIA-TRANSDNIESTRIA

Chisinau, March 22 (Interfax) – The Moldovan Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry has expressed its surprise over the Russian president’s decision to appoint Dmitry Rogozin his special representative for Transdniestria.

“We have taken note of this decision by the Russian authorities with surprise. On the one hand, this decision could confirm significance that Russia attaches to the process of the Transdniestria conflict settlement. On the other hand, we state that this change had not been previously discussed with the Moldovan leadership,” the ministry said in a commentary on Thursday.

Chisinau “will take the necessary steps through diplomatic channels to obtain a clear explanation on this decision, which directly concerns Moldova’s integral part,” it said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had signed a decree earlier this week on appointing Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin a special presidential representative for Transdniestria.

[UA EUROPE EEU EMRG POL MJ RU]

19:21:28 EET-2