The Institute for Strategic Initiatives, supported by the United Nations Development Program in Moldova, held the fourth module of the Transnistrian Dialogues on December 17-19. During the meeting, program participants discussed the role of the international community in conflict resolution, the importance of informal diplomacy and completed work on creating joint projects proposals.

This year 30 people participate in the program, including young journalists, activists, students and young entrepreneurs from both banks of the Dniester River. They are led by a group of 10 mentors. In her welcoming speech Dima Al-Khatib, UNDP Resident Representative in the Republic of Moldova underlined that this community of local young conflict resolution leaders will serve as an important resource in supporting confidence-building in the communities affected by the Transnistrian conflict.

Dima Al-Khatib: Starting with the first event we have seen the development of a constructive engagement between these young civil society activists, entrepreneurs and journalists from both banks of the Nistru River. It is my strong believe that only through such an engagement you will help to reduce existing tensions, increase mutual trust and understanding among people.

How do international actors see the conflict, its evolution and the current situation? Is a joint solution to the conflict possible? What should the main actors do in order to move toward a successful resolution? What must Chisinau and Tiraspol do in order to establish the preconditions for a successful conflict resolution? These questions were answered by Bartlomiej Zdaniuc, Ambassador of Poland to Moldova, Angela Ganninger, German Ambassador to Moldova, Olga Beinarovica, Political Advisor, Political and Economic Relations Unit, EU Delegation to Moldova and Michael Schieder, Senior Political Affairs Officer, OSCE.

During the current edition of the Transnistrian Dialogues, participants work on creating joint project ideas to present to potential donors from the international community represented in Moldova. Vlada Lysenco, UNDP consultant in Moldova, and Yulia Kozachenko, consultant on confidence-building measures and civil society development, acted as mentors.

The Transnistrian Dialogues is a programme of the Institute of Strategic Initiatives aimed at reducing the dividing lines between the two banks of the Dniester River by creating a platform for interaction between their populations. The programme is implemented with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Moldova.