President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Vladimir Nikolayevich,
Today we have the opportunity to exchange information on how our bilateral cooperation is developing and talk about the current state of the political dialogue between our countries.
We have achieved much of late and this is good to see. But there are always outstanding trade and economic issues to address and I think we will be able to discuss them today.
Of course, we will also discuss the well-known problems before us, namely, the situation with Trans-Dniester. And we will discuss our humanitarian cooperation. I propose that we look at all the different issues on our agenda.
President of Moldova Vladimir Voronin: Thank you very much, Dmitry Anatolyevich,
I have come to St Petersburg with good news: our law enforcement officials have been investigating a particular case over the last 18 months, and three days ago these operations ended with the discovery in Moldova of two paintings that were stolen in 2006 from the Hermitage [the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg] and were being prepared for sale abroad. We have seized these paintings. Now we have an investigation underway and the paintings will then be returned to the Hermitage.
Dmitry Medvedev: This is good news, especially when given here within these walls, in St Petersburg. Thank you for this good information.
Vladimir Voronin: This all happened just three days ago. I am very pleased that we were able to do this and that the paintings will be returned.
Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you.