The Hanns Seidel Foundation has opened an Office in Chisinau in order to increase its contribution to the development of the Republic of Moldova and the Black Sea Region. The Office will work under the freshly reorganized Kiev-based Representative Office for the Black Sea Region, which has grown to include Ukraine in addition to Romania, IPN learned from a press release from the Foundation.
“We want to increase the visibility of the Foundation in Chisinau in order to contribute, among others, to strengthening civil society and functional state institutions. We will continue to encourage such projects”, said Daniel Seiberling, head of HSS Representative Office for Ukraine, Romania and the Republic of Moldova, at a roundtable held on this occasion.
Daniel Seiberling has pointed out in this context that civil society must be strengthened so that its positions are better reflected in the policies developed by the political class, and in the actions undertaken by state institutions. “Politicians should perceive civil society as an equal partner, since the latter, along with the media, has the role of a messenger of the problems faced by society as a whole”, Daniel Seiberling noted.
The inauguration of an HSS Office for the Black Sea region has been well received by the embassies of Germany and the three countries involved, and will, consequently, benefit from their support, added Daniel Seiberling. Naturally, one of the focuses of activity, which will involve all three countries, will address border security.
“The mission engraved on the foundation’s banner is to promote democracy. We have reorganized the Black Sea region branch, aiming to create a stronger network which would facilitate experience exchange, including at civil society level”, said Klaus Fiesinger, Cooperation Department Head for Central, East, and South-East Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.
The foundation’s representatives also pointed out the importance of using the media when working to strengthen the civil society. In this sense, the participants in the event welcomed the idea to create a platform that would help HSS partners in Moldova to communicate amongst themselves and, therewith, increase awareness in their regard.
The German foundation Hanns Seidel has been active in the Republic of Moldova since 2003.
