Moldovan parliament speaker gives speech at international conference on pandemic's global challenges

Chisinau, 15 April /MOLDPRES/ - Parliament Speaker Zinaida Greceanii today gave a speech at the international conference, Global challenges and threats in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic: terrorism and violent extremism, the parliament’s communication and public relations department has reported.

In her speech, Zinaida Greceanii referred to the psychological threats in the society, triggered by the stress dealing with the pandemic.  

”Behind huge sanitary, social and economic problems, we do not evaluate another obvious threat with full seriousness – the tectonic changes in the societies’ conscience. The tiredness, stress and distrust in the return to normal life in a predictable future – all these hit the people’s mental condition,’’ the speaker said.   

According to her, there are high risks of COVID-19’s use in the interest of extremist groups and young people are more vulnerable, as they spend a good deal of their time in the online environment, which can be a fertile ground for manipulation and inciting.  

The parliament speaker believes that the state must adopt a joint, comprehensive and balanced approach, based on human rights, for diminishing the risks of the extremism. And in this respect, the transnational cooperation, exchange of information and experience is imperative. The parliament speaker highlighted the important role of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in facilitating the dialogue between the member states in the up-to-date issues.     

”It is impossible for one to fight for the physical and moral survival of the mankind by separating from people. We, the small countries, know this fact quite well,’’ Zinaida Greceanii said.

The speaker shared the experience of Moldova in the prevention of extremist phenomena. The parliament approved, in the first reading, a draft law which toughens the sanctioning and punishment of the creation, adhesion and support of the fascist, racist and xenophobe organizations.  

The event took place on the sidelines of the 52nd plenary session of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of CIS, held at the Tauride Palace from St. Petersburg. The event was organized jointly by the CIS Parliamentary Assembly,  Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).    

photo: Parliament