Officials and experts discuss Moldova’s Transnistrian conflict in Washington, DC
On April 26, the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy and the Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies of Georgetown University and the Moldova Foundation organize a conference to discuss the Transnistrian/ trans-Nistrian conflict in Moldova, as a case study for the "frozen conflicts" in the former Soviet Union. The event titled "Frozen Conflicts in ex-Soviet Union. Two tracks approach: Democratization and Multinational Peacekeeping Operations. The Case of Moldova" will bring experts and public officials from US, EU, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia.
To outline the official positions of the main parties involved in the conflict, organizers invited Moldovan Ambassador to the United States, Nicolae Chirtoacă, as well as Yuri V. Ushakov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation. Oleh Shamshur, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. is expected to present his government views on the conflict at his country’s southwestern border. Mr. Robert Boehme, Director of the State Department office for Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus Affairs will give an overview of the United States position and Mr. Johannes K. Haindl, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany in Washington will talk about the position of the EU regarding Moldova’s frozen conflict (Germany currently holds the EU Presidency).
Participants include top experts on the Transnistrian conflict: Vladimir Socor, a long-time observer of Moldova's developments since late 1980s, and Senior Analyst of the Washington-based think-tank Jamestown Foundation. Moldovan expert Oazu Nantoi, Program Director for Conflict Management with the Chisinau-based Institute for Public Policies and Chairman of the Interdepartmental Committee for the state policy on the Transnistrian conflict settlement will be traveling to Washington for this conference. Mr. Nantoi who is one the most knowledgeable experts on Transnistria will share his views on the peacekeeping operations in Moldova, their role and impact on the conflict resolution.
Dr. Andrei Brezianu is the author of the first edition of the Historical Dictionary of Moldova (Scarecrow Press, 2000; a forthcoming second edition is due to appear later this year). He will address democracy promotion and democratization as instruments in Moldova’s pursuit of a resolution of the trans-Nistrian conflict. Dr Brezianu covered events in Moldova, including the trans-Nistrian conflict, as part of his responsibilities in the European Division of the Voice of America (1986–2001) where he served as Chief of the Romanian Language Service. He served as Course Chair of the Romania/Moldova Advanced Area Studies Division at the George P. Shultz Foreign Service Institute (2002–2003).
Alexei Catan is the executive director of the Evrica NGO and chairman of the parents committee of the Evrica Lyceum in Rybnitsa (Râbniţa), one of the few schools in the trans-Nistrian region allowed to use the country’s language in education, using the Latin script. Catan was in the midst of the 2004 battle with the Tiraspol authorities for linguistic rights in education that received worldwide media attention. He was arrested and detained for opposing the violations of children's rights to study in their native language. Alexei Catan, an electrical engineer by profession, is a native of Moldova’s trans-Nistrian region and all his professional career has been linked to his native province. Against all odds (intimidations, arrests, threats, etc.), Catan continues to be a strong voice within the "Moldavian Transnistrian Republic", struggling against human rights violations, including the rights of children.
The event is hosted by Georgetown University, and moderated by Ambassador William Hill (Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University), former Head of the OSCE Office in Moldova, and by Vlad Spânu, the President of the Moldova Foundation.
Since 2004, the Moldova Foundation regularly organizes events on Moldova, focused on the regional security concerns related to the trans-Nistrian conflict, the stationing of Russian troops on Moldova’s soil, the challenges and difficulties of Moldova’s transition and international support of democratic transformations in this impoverished former Soviet republic.
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