U.S. Ambassador: Exchange Program trainees ease democratization of Moldova

The trainees in exchange programs ease transforming Moldova into a state with free and independent democracy. The statement was made by the US ambassador to Chisinau, Asif Chaudhry, opening the 6 congress of the trainees in exchange programs of the US Government, held in Chisinau on Saturday. The diplomat has said the exchange programs are the best method to cooperate and communicate among people from the USA and Moldova. “The goal is that the people leaving for the united States, where they gather experience, should return to their country and implement it,” Asif Chaudhry said. “In the short time I have been in Moldova as the US ambassador I have observed that the people coming from the USA really have applied what they have learnt there and make wonderful things for their country, bringing change to their communities,” he added. Held traditionally in October, the congress pursues to give the graduates a chance to meet, to exchange experience, to propose new ideas, says Ludmila Bilevschi, the manager of the Graduate Resource Center of the US embassy. “The trip to the States helped me a lot to what I have done here. I’m managing a couple of educational projects. We organize seminars , workshops for different specialists,” says Denis Rusu, who works now as a university professor an dis the vice president of the American Studies Center. The first exchange programs were launched in Moldova in 1993. Ever since over 3,000 Moldovans traveled to the US within exchange programs. These programs take investments of $2.2 million.