The president of the Moldovan breakaway republic of Transdnestr, Yevgeny Shevchuk, dismissed on Thursday media reports concerning his talks with Moldovan Prime Minister Vladimir Filat on the creation of a federative state.

“The discussion of political issues with Chisinau is premature,” Shevchuk said, adding that Moldovan media reports “are based on speculation and rumor.”

Tiraspol and Chisinau are currently discussing “primarily socioeconomic cooperation,” he said.

Reports of “federation talks” appeared in some Moldovan media outlets after Shevchuk and Filat visited Mount Athos in Greece earlier this month.

Replying to a question from RIA Novosti, Shevchuk said the trip to Athos was solely aimed at visiting the holy places.