Moldova

USA plans more social projects in Moldova's rebel region

June 05, 2009

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The US State Department plans to expand its work to implement socially oriented projects in Moldova's breakaway Dniester region, the head of the State Department's delegation, Daniel Rosenblum, said during her visit to Tiraspol with USAID representatives.

The delegation met Dniester foreign minister Vladimir Yastrebchak, his deputy Sergey Simonenko and deputy health minister Svetlana Arkadyeva.

Daniel Rosenblum told Dniester officials that a range of projects launched under USAID's assistance are already being implemented in the region. These are projects meant to strengthen the local infrastructure. The agency is also elaborating a support programme for small business in the Dniester region.

Svetlana Arkadyeva said "it would be more reasonable to develop international aid programmes directly for the Dniester region, without Moldova's mediation".

Yastrebchak pointed out "the problem of unfair mediation by Moldovan state and non-governmental structures".

"Sometimes, 50 per cent of funds allotted by international organizations for the Dniester region stay in Moldova. This significantly decreases efficiency of programmes prepared by foreign sponsors," Yastrebchak said.

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