The president of the Washington-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) Kenneth Wollack called on the government of Moldova to intensify cooperation with the people at the local level and offered the support of his organization to the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) in this regard. The suggestion was formulated in a meeting of the NDI president with the first deputy chairman of the PDM Vlad Plahotniuc, who is paying a working visit to the U.S., IPN reports, quoting a press release of the PDM.

The two officials discussed the role that a powerful civil society must have in Moldova and the future projects of cooperation between the Democratic Party and the National Democratic Institute of the U.S.

“In Moldova, the people want the politicians to be more open, more transparent, more efficient and more credible. We understand this. As regards the relationship with civil society, things are improving because for the first time in the last few years, both the Government and Parliament constantly have consultations with civil society on important issues. The whole political class has yet many things to learn in the process of modernizing the country, while the role of the civil society organizations is vital for materializing the good intentions of the governing coalition,” stated Vlad Plahotniuc.

For his part, Kenneth Wollack appreciated the big responsibility assumed by the PDM within the ruling coalition in Moldova and called upon the Democrats to intensify cooperation with the people at the local level so as to inform them from the first source about the government’s measures. He noted the NDI is ready to assist the Democratic Party in this process.

According to the press release, Vlad Plahotniuc was invited by the Atlantic Council to take part in the organization’s most important event of the year - Distinguished Leadership Awards that honors leaders in politics, business, arts and humanitarian activities who intensely promote the relations between Europe and the U.S.