Russian President Dmitri Medvedev congratulated his counterpart in the Republic of Moldova Vladimir Voronin on Thursday, the Independence Day of the ex-Soviet country. In a message posted on the Russian presidency website, Medvedev says he hopes in strengthened friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries, as Jurnal de Chisinau newspaper reports.

The message says Russia was ready to strengthen the strategic partnership between the country.

The two heads of state met less than a week ago for the third time this year - a meeting described by Russian media in tough terms towards the Republic of Moldova. On August 28, the Moldovan Parliament is due to convene and elect its new structures, followed by the the election of a new President of the country.