Opinion leaders from the regions on a study visit to Chisinau

On May 28, 12 local opinion formers from Rezina district and 8 from Straseni district had a study visit to Chisinau. During the visit, the participants visited the NATO Liaison Office in the Republic of Moldova, the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in the Republic of Moldova (NATO Contact Point Embassy) and discussed both with the representatives of the diplomatic missions and the representatives of the Moldovan state defense institutions.

The first session took place at the NATO Liaison Office. The Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Moldova, Ms Kristina Baleisyte and Ms Mariana Grama, Colonel, Head of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Defense, discussed with the attendants about the partnership between the Republic of Moldova and NATO, the framework for cooperation, as well as the projects implemented by Moldova with NATO support both in the scientific, medical, ecological, civilian, and in the area of security and defense reform, both from the official NATO’s perspective and from the position of the Ministry of Defense.

According to Ms. Baleisyte, “The cooperation between NATO and Moldova is based on three principles: NATO fully respects the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and the constitutional neutrality of the Republic of Moldova; NATO’s support for Moldova is based on a demand-driven approach and the responsibility and the ownership of the projects funded by NATO is in the hands of Moldova”.

Ms. Mariana Grama, Colonel, Head of the International Cooperation Department made an insight into various projects carried out by the Ministry of Defense with NATO’s support. A high interest from the participants presented the NATO project for the destruction of dangerous pesticides in Moldova and its impact on the human security.

The second session took place at the NATO Contact Point Embassy in Moldova, a position held by the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Moldova. H.E. Mr. Kestutis Kudzmanas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Moldova, discussed with the participants about the process of Lithuania’s integration into NATO and EU, about the benefits, but also about the threats the Lithuanian people faced in reaching this goal. At the same time, H.E. also talked about the assistance provided by the Government of Lithuania to the Moldovan Government through bilateral projects and through the EU. Moreover, H.E. mentioned the support the Embassy gives for the civil society initiatives in Moldova.

The participants were representing LPAs, NGOs, educational environment, media and other opinion formers and multipliers from the regions of Moldova.

Between May and September 2019, the Information and Documentation Center on NATO in Moldova (The IDC on NATO), in cooperation with the NATO Liaison Office in the Republic of Moldova, will conduct study visits for opinion formers from the regions in the context of the project: Study visits of opinion formers from the regions, the aim of which is raising the public awareness on NATO – Republic of Moldova cooperation and fostering the dialog on the subject with the civil society, academia, the local public administration and media representatives.

This project is taking place on the occasion NATO’s 70th anniversary, with the support of the NATO Liaison Office.

Should you need more details on this project, please contact us at octavian.cartera@infocenter.md or +373 22 244 080.