CHISINAU, February 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russia does not rule out the possibility of holding a trilateral meeting with Moldova and the unrecognized republic of Transdnestr, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"We do not exclude that it could be necessary to hold a trilateral meeting," Lavrov said following talks at the Moldovan Foreign Ministry, adding that the trilateral format was "on the agenda."

He also noted that the Transdnestr conflict could be resolved "on the basis of the sides' direct agreements."

Transdnestr is pressing Moldova for independence, but the former Soviet republic is only offering the region broad autonomy.

Relations between Moldova and Transdnestr have been tense since the unrecognized republic declared its independence from the former Soviet Union, and Transdnestr in turn proclaimed itself an independent republic. Russia has deployed peacekeepers in Transdnestr since July 1992.

International talks on Transdnestr were suspended in 2006. Hopes that talks would finally resume were given a boost after a meeting between the presidents of Transdnestr and Moldova in the Transdnestr region city of Bendery in April last year.

However, another round of talks scheduled for September last year was postponed after the parties failed to agree on a venue.