The agreement was reached at the first meeting of the Moldovan-Russian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, presided over by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Valerii Serov and his Moldovan counterpart Valentin Cunev. The two sides also agreed to consider joint defense projects. A member of the Russian delegation, Minister for Relations with the CIS Aman Tuleev, said he regrets an interview published by the Moscow-based Pravda in which he said that Russia should not grant credits to Moldova if Mircea Snegur wins the November presidential election. Tuleev said he did not approve the final text of the interview. Bulgarian opposition deputies will submit the media law to the Constitutional Court, hoping for a ruling prior to 27 October presidential elections, Demokratsiya reported on 14 September.
Experts say the law violates freedom of speech clauses in the constitution.
Meanwhile, in election update news, official campaigning for the presidency is expected to kick off on 24 September. Bread prices quadrupled in the past five months, Pari reported on 13 September. Because of a grain shortage, a kilo of bread now costs 85 leva, up from 62 leva in August. The lack of fodder forced some farmers to butcher pigs and export the meat for hard currency, which resulted in a rise in pork prices from 340 leva for 1 kilogram in August to 400 leva now. Trying to restore consumer confidence and restrain speculation, the government will introduce price controls for bread, milk, cheese, and oil on 1 October, Pari reported.