I wanted to give you a short update on the mission to Moldova-Transdniestria, which I undertook on behalf of EN.CPS, PATRIR and TRANSCEND between 19 July and 1 August.

The purpose of the mission was to assess the local needs, resources and capacities in relation to peace building and conflict transformation. This mission was meant as a key step in the development of a collaborative project in M-T, with local partner World Window.

The mission included meetings in Chisinau, Tiraspol and Bendery/Tighina with representatives of M & T government structures, local NGOs, media, potential funders and international actors (UN, OSCE, British Embassy). I also spent a very productive 4 days with our colleagues from World Window, brainstorming a concrete project plan, based on the local knowledge of WW and the information collected during the mission.

A broad conclusion from the mission can be summarised as follows:

"The Republic of Moldova and the self proclaimed, self governed Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic within it, have maintained a ceasefire since the tragic armed confrontation in 1992. However, despite numerous political resolution proposals being brought forward, slow progress has been made in building sustainable peace in the region. A major positive aspect of the conflict is the fact that the majority of people on either side of the Dniestr/Nistru do not feel any great animosity to those on the opposite bank. However, several concerning trends have developed, that need to be addressed by a comprehensive peacebuilding effort. Media coverage of the ongoing political conflict has been mainly inflammatory and focused on state and nationalist propaganda. The middle stratum of society, employed by government structures and most exposed to the inside of the propaganda machine are developing feelings of animosity and separation towards their counterparts in Chisinau/Tiraspol. The economic and political isolation of Transdniestria has resulted in little exposure to new ideas, expertise and approaches to transforming the conflict – a particularly worrying trend among the power-holding factions of the elite, and those with perceived economic interest in perpetuating the conflict situation. The people and civil society of Moldova and Transdniestria are largely disempowered and underskilled to engage in direct peacebuilding efforts without expert support."

We are currently working with World Window to produce a number of follow up actions now that the mission has been completed:
1) Mission Report including preliminary Needs & Resources Assessment
2) Detailed Project Plan & funding applications for engagement in M-T
3) Mapping of peacebuilding activities undertaken to date in M-T

I will share these documents with you for discussion as soon as we put them together.

As mentioned earlier, any major funding application will be preceded by a robust partner selection process.

Peace to all

Denis


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