June Press Club tackles small-scale traffic on border with Romania (June 6)

06.06.08/ Aspects of relations between Moldova and Romania, especially the debate over the draft convention on small-scale traffic on the border between the two countries, featured prominently during the latest meeting of the Chisinau Press Club. Organized by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), the meeting brought together media professionals and foreign policy analysts, representatives of local public authorities from several towns and villages situated close to the Romanian-Moldovan border, along with a member of Moldovan parliament.

 Discussion participants criticized the authorities for lacking political will to adopt the convention and promote various trans-frontier projects that would facilitate Moldova’s economic development and would provide residents of towns and villages in the west of Moldova with sources of livelihood. Press Club meetings have been organized by the IJC in partnership with the Moldovan Press Freedom Committee since 1995 in order to provide journalists with additional insight into a variety of topical issues. Keynote speakers at these informal Q&A sessions have included various public personalities from Moldova and abroad. Currently, financial support for the project is offered by the UK government's Global Conflict Prevention Pool (IJC).