Moldovan Diaspora from Switzerland urged to more actively get involved in processes in Moldova

Chisinau, 17 April /MOLDPRES/ - Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Tudor Ulianovschi has had a meeting with members of the Diaspora from Switzerland, in the context of his working visit to Geneva. At the visit, Moldovan fellow countrymen had possibility to put questions on Moldova’s foreign policy priorities, situation in the country in the medical, social and educational sectors. The sides exchanged opinions on Moldova’s economic re-launching, including through the extension of policies on combating migration and for the return of the Diaspora to Moldova.   

According to the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry’s (MAEIE) public diplomacy, strategic communication and media interaction service, given that Switzerland has a federal political and administrative regime, the Moldovan diplomacy head launched the idea of the joining of all Diaspora forces under aegis of a common association of all representatives of Moldova’s community registered in Switzerland, who, in partnership with the Embassy of Moldova in Geneva and the Diaspora Relations Bureau, are to turn to good account the potential of active involvement of the Moldovan Diaspora and establish an yearly agenda of social and cultural projects due to be traditionally implemented by Moldova’s community of citizens who are in Switzerland, with the constant support of the diplomatic mission from Geneva.      

Moldova’s citizens were invited to set forth their ideas in elaborating concrete proposals of the way of optimizing the work of Moldovans’ communities from abroad, by jointly identifying 2-3 annual projects due to be meant both for Moldovans from Switzerland and the citizens who remained in Moldova. “To live and work abroad must be just an issue of choice, not one of compulsion. I want to believe that, in the long run, any citizen of Moldova from abroad will consider the option of returning home, having certainty that, in our country, the work and professional dedication will be recognized at their true value,” Tudor Ulianovschi said.    

For their part, the communities’ members expressed wish that the Diaspora be more actively involved in the process of working out policies from Moldova and strategies of social and economic re-launching of Moldova, due to fully show the interests and concerns of the Moldovan citizens from abroad. Also, the fellow countrymen asked the Moldovan diplomacy head to raise the awareness of the Diaspora Relations Bureau as to the establishing of efficient and proportional criteria in the process of re-distribution of grants provided to Moldova’s civil society and the Moldovan communities from abroad, based on social and cultural projects considered by representatives of the Diaspora Relations Bureau. In this respect, the participants in the event stressed the need to provide programmes on grants, including to Diaspora members who intend to organize educational and cultural activities meant for the children of the Moldovan citizens residents of other states.     

Minister Ulianovschi encouraged the Diaspora members to display constant interest and a pro-active attitude towards the governmental policies in any activity sector. He expressed openness for continuing a constructive and efficient dialogue with Moldova’s Diaspora. “The protection of the rights and interests of Moldova’s citizens, their life and security wherever they are remain a major priority for our country’s foreign policy,” the foreign affairs minister added.