NATIONAL FORUM OF ETHNIC MINORITIES 2025

National Commitment

The Forum represents a national commitment to democracy, equality, and inclusion.

Intercultural Dialogue

Fostering cooperation and trust between institutions and ethnic communities.

Equal Representation

Promoting minority inclusion in decision-making processes and public policies.

2025

National Forum of Ethnic Minorities

The largest platform in the Republic of Moldova dedicated to the rights, integration, and participation of national, ethnic, and linguistic minorities. Organized by the Center for Civic Initiatives for National Minorities (ICPMN), with support from key state institutions and international partners.

In 2025, the forum takes place under the slogan: "The Voice of Minorities Matters"

The event is more than a discussion space—it is a catalyst for action, designed to ensure that minority voices meaningfully influence public policies. 2025 focuses on social cohesion, peace, and the role of minorities in building a democratic, inclusive, and resilient society.

Speakers

Featured Speaker

Experience Speaker With Knowledge Knowledge

Experts

Mihai PEICOV

Executive Director, Center for Civic Initiatives for National Minorities

Carolina BOGATIUC

Executive Director, European Initiative

Petru Macovei

Executive Director, Association of Independent Press (API)

Valeriu Țurcanu

Public Administration Specialist, Head of INAMP Service

Ecaterina Jekova

Gagauz journalist; former deputy of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia

Kirill Jelezov

Gagauz activist; founder of the first online translator for the Gagauz language

Elvira Drangoi

Activist and human rights defender of Roma ethnicity

Elena Sârbu

President of the Roma Women’s Platform “ROMNI”; expert in the rights and inclusion of Roma women and children

Karen Hovhannisyan

President of the Congress of Armenians of the Republic of Moldova

Alexandr Borimecicov

Director of the Association for the Development of the Bulgarian Community in Moldova; Administrative Director of the “Angel Kanchev” University of Ruse branch in Taraclia

Angelina Gaidarji

Journalist; Director of the news portal TUK.MD

Elena MOMAT

Local councilor in the village of Cazaclia; President of the Association of Local Initiative Groups (Gagauzia ATU)

Daria RUSSU

Producer and TV host at Moldova 1; founder of the “Ukrainian Film Days” in the Republic of Moldova

Aliona GROSSU

Director of the Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova

Anastasia MOROZAN

Grants Program Coordinator within the National Coalition “Life Without Violence”

Representatives of state institutions

Vladimir Bolea

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Republic of Moldova

Dan Perciun

Minister of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova

Alexandr STOIANOGLO

Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova

Natalia DAVIDOVICI

Member of Parliament of the Republic of Moldova

Veaceslav REABCINSCHII

Director General, Agency for Interethnic Relations

Victorina LUCA

Human rights expert; Member of the Council for the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination and Ensuring Equality

Anatolii TALMACI

Deputy Mayor of Copceac village (Gagauzia ATU)

International partners / Diplomatic missions

Guido BELTRANI

Director, Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova

Dr. Brigitta TRIEBEL

Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in the Republic of Moldova

Jaromír PLÍŠEK

Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Moldova

Svetlana ANDRIES

Deputy Country Representative, UN Women Moldova

Kateryna HAERTEL

Political Officer and Project Coordinator, Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN)

Schedule

Event Conference Organisation

List Of Planned Events

	09:00 - 10:00	Participant registration and welcome coffee
Sala principală	10:00 - 10:40	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 Initiatives Center for National Minorities Maia SANDU – President of the Republic of Moldova (tbc) Guido BELTRANI – Director, Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova Iwona PIORKO – Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova (tbc) Dr. Brigitta TRIEBEL – Director, Konrad Adenauer Foundation in the Republic of Moldova Veaceslav REABCINSCHII – Director General, Agency for Interethnic Relations Carolina BOGATIUC – Executive Director, European Initiative Moderator: Marina TABARNA
Sala principală	10:40 - 11:15	“Democracy for all – participation of minorities in the social and political life of society” Guest: Maia SANDU (tbc) Moderator: Mihai PEICOV
	11:15 - 11:30	Group photo (Family Photo)
Sala principală	11:30 - 12:30	Social cohesion, peace and interethnic dialogue: how to build bridges of trust in a multiethnic country Speakers: Dmitrii LECARTEV – Representative of the Ukrainian community (tbc) Elena SÂRBU – Representative of the Roma community (tbc) Karen HOVHANNISYAN – Representative of the Armenian community (tbc) Chirill JELEZOV – Representative of the Gagauz community (tbc) Alexandr BORIMECIKOV – Representative of the Bulgarian community (tbc) Mihail FINKELI – Representative of the Jewish community (tbc) Moderator: Marina TABARNA
	12:30 - 12:45	Coffee break
Sala principală	12:45 - 13:45	Public policy, culture, language, education and the legal framework for national minorities Speakers: Dan PERCIUN – Minister of Education of the Republic of Moldova (tbc) Cristian JARDAN – Minister of Culture of the Republic of Moldova (tbc) Natalia DAVIDOVICI – Member of Parliament of the Republic of Moldova (tbc) Veaceslav REABCINSCHII – Director General, ARI Antonia LUCIANI – President of the Coppieters Foundation (Belgium) (tbc) Moderator: ARI
Sala 2	12:45 - 13:45	Dialogue, social cohesion and current challenges of autonomous regions Speakers: • Alexandr TARNAVSCHII – Member of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia (tbc) • Serghei ANASTASOV – Mayor of Comrat municipality (tbc) • Ecaterina JEKOVA – Civic activist, journalist (tbc) • Anatolii TALMACH – Deputy mayor of Copceac (tbc) • Maria AKBAȘ – Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova (tbc) • Alexandr STOIANOGLO – Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova (tbc) Moderator: Marina TABARNA
	13:45 - 14:45	Lunch
Sala principală	14:45 - 15:45	Democratic standards and norms on minority rights. What is missing in the Republic of Moldova? Speakers: Guido BELTRANI – Director, Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova Iwona PIORKO – Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova (tbc) Representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (tbc) Representative of the Embassy of Sweden (tbc) Representative of FUEN (tbc) Moderator: Marina TABARNA
Sala 2	14:45 - 15:45	Contemporary challenges and risks for ethnic communities Speakers: Ana REVENCO – Director, Center for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation (tbc) Petru MACOVEI – Executive Director, Association of Independent Press (API) (tbc) Angelina GAIDARJI – Journalist, TUK.MD Mihail SÎRCELI – Journalist, Nokta.md Ludmila BARBA – Journalist, Teleradio Moldova (tbc)
Sala 3	14:45 - 15:45	Local administration and regional development Vladimir BOLEA – Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development (tbc) 30 mayors from ethnic communities Moderator: Stanislav TIBARI
	15:45 - 16:00	Coffee break
Sala principală	16:00 - 17:00	Leadership, equality and civic participation Speakers: Representative of UN Women Moldova (tbc) Iana STANȚIERU – President, Alliance of Women of Moldova (tbc) Veronica TELEUCĂ – Coordinator, National Platform of Women in Moldova (tbc) Victorina LUCA – Gender equality expert, Equality Council (tbc) Elvira DRANGOI – Activist, representative of the Roma community (tbc)
Sala 2	16:00 - 17:00	Civic engagement, leadership and the future of multi-ethnic regions Speakers: Nicolae ȘTEFĂNUȚĂ – Vice-President of the European Parliament (tbc)
Sala principală	17:00 - 17:30	Closing of the National Forum of Ethnic Minorities 2025