Report on the STCU Visit to Moldova, 16th – 18th February 2004

25 Feb 2004 - 25 Jun 2004

In a follow up to receiving confirmation from the Supreme Council for Science & Technological Development that the Republic of Moldova was about to finalize the accession process in order to join the International Agreement Creating the Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine, Executive Director Yves Carmel, Deputy Executive Director Esa Manninen and Chief Administrative Officer David Cleave, travelled to Chisinau to hold meetings with several Government bodies and officials.

The visit was also planned in order to meet, interview and choose from a list of prospective candidates for the new position of STCU representative officer in Moldova as well as visit potential office sites, located in various technical institutes, Science Academies and the State University.

Meetings were held with Prof.Anatol Rotaru, and President of the Supreme Council for Science and Technology Development, Mr. Leonid Culiuc, a Member of the Moldovan Parliament and also Director of the Institute of Applied Physics, as well as a high level meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The Instrument of Accession is awaited from the MFA as the final formality.

Other visits and meetings included a visit to the joint venture Company Topaz, visits to the Institute of Applied Physics, the Technical University, meetings with Mr. Duca, the Moldavian Government Representative of CRDF & MRDA, as well as USAID deputy Director Alla Rotundu, and with the Head of the EC Delegation in Moldova, Mr Ivan Borisavljevic.

Despite a rather heavy schedule, the visit proved to be very successful in furthering relations and contacts with representatives of both the Moldovan Government and those in the respective Science and Technical Academies, as a precursor to the establishment of full STCU activities in Moldova, which is planned for the second quarter of 2004.