National Forum of Ethnic Minorities 2025

10:00 – 10:15

Musical intermezzo
Moldova National Youth Orchestra & Andriano Marian – “Music of Ethnic Communities”

10:15 – 10:40

Opening remarks:

• Mihai PEICOV – Executive Director, Civic Initiative Center for National Minorities
• H.E. Igor GROSU – President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova
• Guido BELTRANI – Director, Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova
• H.E. Mate CSICSAI – Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova
• Dr. Brigitta TRIEBEL – Director, Konrad Adenauer Foundation in the Republic of Moldova
• Veaceslav REABCINSCHII – Director General, Agency for Interethnic Relations
• Carolina BOGATIUC – Executive Director, Civic Movement “European Initiative”
• Moderators: Marina Țabarna and Aina Idrisova

“Democracy for all – participation of minorities in the social and political life of society”

Guest: H.E. Igor GROSU – President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova

“Social cohesion, peace, and interethnic dialogue: how to build bridges of trust in a multiethnic country”

Speakers:

• Karen HOVHANNISYAN – President, Congress of Armenians of Moldova
• Elena SÎRBU – Director General, Roma Women’s Platform “ROMNI”
• Chirill JELEZOV – Representative of the Gagauz community
• Aliona GROSSU – Director of the Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova
• Alexandr BORIMECIKOV – Director, Association for the Development of the Bulgarian Community of Moldova
• Vasile DRANGOI – President, “Voice of Roma” Coalition
• Moderator: Aina Idrisova

“Public policies, culture, language, education, and the legislative framework regarding national minorities”

Speakers:

• Dan PERCIUN – Minister of Education of the Republic of Moldova
• Natalia DAVIDOVICI – Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova; Vice-Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Interethnic Relations
• Veaceslav REABCINSCHII – Director General, Agency for Interethnic Relations
• Lilia SARSAMAN – Head of the Education Department, Taraclia District
• Polina PÎNTEA – Director of “N. Tretiacov” Lyceum (Comrat Municipality)
• Moderator: Aina Idrisova

Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and Current Challenges

Speakers:

• Serghei ANASTASOV – Mayor of Comrat Municipality
• Ecaterina JEKOVA – Civic activist, journalist; former Member of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia
• Anatolii TALMACH – Deputy Mayor of Copceac village
• Alexandr STOIANOGLO – Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova
• Elena MOMAT – Local Councillor in Cazaclia village; President of the Association of Local Initiative Groups
• Moderator: Marina Tabarna

Democratic Standards and Norms on Minority Rights. What Is the Republic of Moldova Missing?

Speakers:

• H.E. Fred DUJIN – Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Moldova
• H.E. Jaromír PLÍŠEK – Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Moldova
• Professor Fernand de Varennes – Former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues (joining ONLINE)
• Andreea GORAȘ – Member of the “European Initiative” team
• Moderator: Aina Idrisova

Contemporary challenges and risks for ethnic communities

Speakers:

• Liliana NICOLAESCU-ONOFREI – Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova
• Ana REVENCO – Director, Center for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation
• Petru MACOVEI – Executive Director, Association of Independent Press (API)
• Anghelina GAIDARJI – Journalist; Director of the news portal TUK.MD
• Dr. Dimitar KERANOV – Program Coordinator, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
• Rodica PANȚA – Dean, Faculty of International Relations, Political Science and Journalism (ULIM); Research Coordinator, Platform for Security and Defense Initiatives
• Moderator: Marina Țabarna

Local administration and regional development

• Vladimir BOLEA – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Republic of Moldova
• Valeriu ȚURCANU – Public Administration Specialist, Head of Service at INAMP
• 30 mayors from ethnic communities
• Moderator: Stanislav Țibari

Leadership, equality and civic participation

Speakers:

• Svetlana ANDRIEȘ – Deputy Country Representative, UN Women Moldova
• Anastasia MOROZAN – Grants Program Coordinator, National Coalition “Life Without Violence”
• Victorina LUCA – Expert in gender equality and human rights; Member of the Council for the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination and Ensuring Equality
• Janna PAȘALI – Director, Unified Cultural Center of Ceadîr-Lunga Municipality
• Elvira DRANGOI – Activist; Representative of the Roma community
• Ecaterina PITULA – Project Manager, Civic Initiative Center for National Minorities

Civic engagement, leadership and the future of multi-ethnic regions

Speakers:

• Tudor ARNAUT – Secretary General, National Youth Council of Moldova
• Nocolai DISLI – Director, Youth Organization “PHAROS” (ATU Gagauzia)
• Serghei DELISTOIAN – Teacher, “Luceafărul” Lyceum, Vulcănești
• Karen GASPAREAN – President, Armenian Youth of Moldova
• Igor CIBOTARI – Representative of Roma community youth

Final Conclusions:

• Veaceslav REABCINSCHII – Director General, Agency for Interethnic Relations
• Mihai PEICOV – Executive Director, Civic Initiative Center for National Minorities