Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PMR Nina Shtanski has held a meeting today with Head of the Council of Europe Office in Moldova Ulvi Akhundlu. The sides have discussed a number of humanitarian projects that the Council of Europe plans to implement jointly with the Pridnestrovien side in 2012 and 2013.
It is the second visit by Ulvi Akhundlu to Pridnestrovie in the last few days. In the course of the conversation he told the Minister about the results of his meetings with representatives of executive bodies of Pridnestrovie which took place on January 27, in Tiraspol, as well as about activities aimed at confidence building between Moldova and Pridnestrovie planned to be carried out under the auspices of the Council of Europe. According to the Head of the Office, it will be a series of thematic workshops and training courses for representatives from Moldova and Pridnestrovie. They will be held on a whole number of areas and will cover work of mass media, assistance in the development of the civil society, improving quality of health care, and prevention of communicable diseases. Apart from that, organization of joint activities with the Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ministry of Education of the PMR is planned.
Nina Shtanski highly estimated efforts of the Office of the Council of Europe in Moldova and its aspiration to fruitful interaction with the Pridnestrovien organs of power. The Minister pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide support for implementation of those projects of the Council of Europe in Pridnestrovie that will be demanded by society and relevant governmental structures.
Following the meeting, Ulvi Akhundlu reported to journalists that prior consent on a majority of areas of work had been obtained, and in coming days action plan would be submitted for approval by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Starting from this year, the Council of Europe shifts to a two-year budget cycle, so all projects are expected to be implemented within two years. According to the Head of the Office, first events may take place as early as March 2012.
