Moldova
March 2011 - The John Smith Memorial Trust is delighted to announce that Natalia Calenic and Vitali Chiurcciu have been awarded a place on the 2011 John Smith Fellowship Programme. They will travel to the UK in June as 2011 John Smith Fellows.
March 2011 - Moldovan Deputy Foreign Minister, 2009 Fellow Andrei Popov, meets Minister for Europe
On 18th March 2011, John Smith Fellow Andrei Popov met with David Lidington MP to discuss UK relations with Moldova. Please visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website to read about their meeting.
January 2011 - What makes a John Smith Fellow?
Trust Adviser, the Rt Hon George Reid, was interviewed by the Face2Face television programme on 27 January after chairing the Trust’s interview panel in Chisinau, Moldova. Read More
August 2010 - John Smith Fellow Appointed Ambassador to USA
2001 Fellow Igor Munteanu has been appointed as Ambassador of Moldova to the USA. He was previously Executive Director of the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS) ‘Viitorul’, a leading think tank in Moldova whose mission is to contribute to the quality of governance, policy analysis and the growth of an independent thinking environment in Moldova.
August 2010 - Liliana Gutan (2010 Fellow) has been appointed as Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in the Hellenic Republic (based in Athens). At the time of the 2010 Fellowship Programme, Liliana was Head of Section for regional cooperation in the wider Black Sea area within the Regional Cooperation Directorate of the European Integration Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (Republic of Moldova).
May 2010 - John Smith Fellow Appointed Ambassador to France
Oleg Serebrian (John Smith Fellow 2004) has been appointed the Ambassador of Moldova to France. Mr Serebrian is currently an MP and Vice-President of the Democratic Party. He says he is giving up these positions “with considerable regret”, but believes his professional background will help him to advance his country’s interests in Paris. Fluent in a number of languages, he previously headed the Political Analysis Division of Moldova’s Foreign Ministry and served also for a period as its official spokesman. [Source: AllMoldova News, 27 May 2010]
GEORGE REID IN MOLDOVA, 2010
Trust Adviser, the Rt Hon George Reid, spent 11 to 13 January 2010 in Chisinau interviewing candidates for the Trust’s 2010 Fellowships, meeting Fellows, and holding talks with Government representatives. Seventeen people were selected for interview from 30 applicants this year. Mr Reid said: “The overall calibre of candidates was really high. Following extensive promotion in Moldova last year, there has been a surge of applicants from a wide range of professions. Those chosen for a Fellowship will be announced in March.”
During his visit, Mr Reid had lunch with Vice Prime Minister, Victor Osipov, during which they discussed Transdniestria and Mr Reid’s experience of relations between London and Edinburgh in his capacity as an MP, MSP and President of the Scottish Parliament. He also met Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Popov, a 2009 Fellow, and Stela Mocan, a 2005 Fellow who is now Special Adviser to Prime Minister Vlad Filat. Mr Reid also reviewed developments in Legal Aid with 2009 Fellow Nadia Hriptivschi and the situation in Transdniestria with Tiraspol Fellows, Vlada Lisenco and Alena Arshenova. Ambassador Keith Shannon arranged a John Smith Trust Reception, attended by previous Fellows and representatives of the Government, NGO and diplomatic communities.
May 2010 - Dr Iulian Fruntasu (2006 Fellow) has been appointed as Foreign Policy Adviser to the Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat. Iulian previously worked for the OSCE Mission to Serbia where he was Project Manager at the Training Centre in Novi Pazar.
November 2009 - Andrei Popov (2009 Fellow) has been appointed as the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Moldova. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (Democratic Party) in the July 2009 parliamentary elections following his decision to stand in the election during the 2009 Fellowship Programme. He was previously the Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Association of Moldova. In 2007 he was re-elected for a second three-year-term. The Foreign Policy Association of Moldova (A.P.E.) is a NGO think-tank set up in 2004 by a group of well-known public figures, analysts and former senior officials and diplomats in order to develop foreign policy, support the country’s integration into the European Union and achieve a political settlement in Transdniestria.
Advisory Board member Rt Hon George Reid promotes the 2010 Fellowship in Moldova
The acting President of Moldova has praised the work of the Trust for “bringing instant results” in its work to promote democracy in his country. Read More - Download PDF
Deputy Director Joanna Lamb travels with APPG Moldova to promote 2009 Fellowship Programme
From Monday 29th September to Friday 3rd October 2008, a delegation from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Moldova travelled to Moldova at the invitation of the Moldovan Parliament. Joanna Lamb travelled with the delegation on behalf of the Trust - her last visit in her capacity as Deputy Director. Read More
Trust Advisor Lord Dubs addresses Plenary of Moldovan Parliament during Trust visit
Trust Advisor Lord Dubs of Battersea, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Moldova, addressed the Moldovan Parliament on the issue of EU integration as part of a visit to promote applications for the John Smith Fellowship Programme. Read More
The John Smith Memorial Trust welcomes young Moldovan political leaders to the UK
On 18th February 2007 six young Moldovan political leaders arrived in the UK to take part in a week long programme organised by the John Smith Memorial Trust on behalf of the UK Embassy in Moldova. Read More
All Party Parliamentary Group on Moldova visits Chisinau - inspired by John Smith Fellows
Members of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Moldova have just returned from an official visit to Chisinau on the invitation of the Moldovan Parliament. Heading the delegation was the Group’s Chairman, Lord Dubs of Battersea, who is also a member of the John Smith Trust Advisory Board. Read More
John Smith Fellow appointed Permanent Representative of Moldova to the United Nations
On 11th September 2006, Alexei Tulbure, 2000 John Smith Fellow from Moldova, became the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova to the United Nations. Read More
2006 John Smith Memorial Trust Networking Conference
Twenty John Smith Fellows travelled from seven countries across the Former Soviet Union to take part in the 2006 John Smith Fellowship Networking Conference, held in Chisinau, Moldova on 7th and 8th April. Read More
Oleg Serebrian, 2004 Fellow, elected to the Parliament
Oleg Serebrian, a 2004 Fellow, President of the Social Liberal Party, was elected on 6 March 2005 to the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. The future for Moldova is still uncertain; but Moldovan Fellows are pleased that Oleg is in a position to influence events. The Trust congratulates him on his election. (see his photograph in Photo Gallery Two)
Articles
Arriving at Yes
by Rt. Hon. George Reid. Extracts from his speech made in Chisinau on 2 October 2007.
I have spent half my last 30 years in countries whose citizens have been denied a decent life because of conflict.
Local Democracy: a Week, a Year, Hundreds of Years …
by 2002 Fellow Natalia Motili
A Taste of Democracy
A personal view of the John Smith Fellowship Programme by 2002 Fellow Natalia Motili
Can political parties ensure democratic development in Moldova?
by 2005 Fellow Stela Mocan
The type of party system in newly established democracies and the quality of political parties are two critical elements of a diverse, inclusive and fully representative political system. The primary role of parties in building democracy is taken for granted in transition states.
East and West: Europe without Winners and Losers
by 2005 Fellow Eugeniu Burdelnii
Over the past fifteen years the newly independent states (NIS) of the former Soviet Union have been trying to create their own models of development based on local political, economic and cultural traditions. For most of these countries the process has been very painful, marked by devastating economic recession, political instability and social crisis.
British Alumni Association of Moldova (BAAM)
The British Alumni Association of Moldova (BAAM) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization founded in Moldova's capital, Chisinau, in February 2008. The main goal of the BAAM is to create a network of alumni who have studied in the UK. BAAM members are mainly John Smith Fellows and Chevening Fellows.
The following John Smith Fellows were elected as members of the Administrative Council of the Association: Vitalie Ioviţa, Dinu Toderaşcu, Iurie Brinister, Natalia Motîli.
Mr. Eugen Burdelnii, 2005 John Smith Fellow, was elected as President of the Administrative Council of the Association. Mr. Eugen Goloşceapov, 2006 John Smith Fellow, was elected as Vice-President of the Administrative Council of the Association.
The main objectives of the BAAM are as follows:
• The foundation of a community of experts and professionals who have studied or participated in various programs/projects in the UK;
• The promotion of social and professional interaction between alumni;
• The promotion of British culture and values in the Republic of Moldova and vice versa;
• Cooperation with British alumni from the other countries;
• Cooperation with British educational institutions;
• Launching common projects and programs in various areas with the Moldovan authorities, British partners, international organizations, etc.;
• Providing an intellectual discussion forum among the Association’s members and other citizens;
• Contributing to the consolidation of political, economic and cultural ties between the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom.