Experts from Latvia came to Chisinau to share their experience in developing competence in intercultural communication. On June 17, the experts took part in a seminar entitled “Civil society and the integration of society building in developing competence in intercultural communication” that was staged by the Embassy of Latvia in Chisinau in partnership with the Interethnic Relations Bureau, IPN reports.
Vita Dobele, ad-interim charge d’affaires of the Embassy of Latvia, said this seminar forms part of a series of events held on the occasion of the taking over by Latvia of the presidency of the Council of the European Union. The subject of formation of intercultural communication skills and the process of integrating ethnic minorities are very important. In Moldova, they speak a lot about the development of strategies for integrating ethnic minorities. Latvia went through a similar experience and implemented a number of such strategies.
Director general of the Interethnic Relations Bureau Elena Beleacova said this seminar is very important as intercultural communication holds interest given that Moldova is a country with many ethnic groups. The development of competence in intercultural communication lays at the basis of peacekeeping and understanding between ethnic minorities.
Alda Sebre, director of the Projects Department of the Society Integration Foundation of Latvia, said an integral policy is needed to develop competence in intercultural communication and all the social players should become involved in this. After the Soviet Union fell apart, Latvia took a number of measures to integrate the ethnic communities. Conditions were created for studying the Latvian language or for participation in different activities.
Inese Lazda-Mazula, trainer at the Society Integration Foundation, said discussions should exist on the integration of minorities so as to facilitate the process. It is important to analyze and use the best practices of the states that achieved results in this regard, by adjusting them to the own particularities as specific policies should be adopted in each case apart.
