“Expanding Cross-border Co-operation of Moldovan and Romanian Journalists” project about to finish

Moldovan and Romanian journalists met at a conference in order to evaluate progress of the “Expanding Cross-border Co-operation of Moldovan and Romanian Journalists” project, conducted during 6 months by the Independent Press Association (IPA). According to the head of API, Petru Macovei, the financial support for the implementation of this project is offered by the Department for Romanians of the Romanian Foreign Ministry. The project contributed not only to informing about the specific character of the Romanian and Moldovan written and electronic press, but also to the development of friendship relations between the media from both banks of Prut River. According to Macovei, the journalists from Moldova were engaged in internships in different countries of the world without having the possibility of applying what they have learned because of the differences they are experiencing in the work process. Romania offers vaster knowledge to Moldovan journalists in this field. This was the motivation for the implementation of the project, within which 16 journalists from Moldova benefited from internships at Rompres, Radio Romania International etc. Five journalists from Romania paid a fact-finding visit to Moldova and discussed with Chisinau politicians. The programme coordinator Dumitru Lazur said that another objective of the project was to publish an online newspaper where journalists from both countries can place their reports. In two months from its creation the newspaper draw the attention of visitors and news agencies which use the materials, the cited source says. According to API, the project will continue to work, and the list of objectives will be augmented with other priorities.