The purpose of the project is to facilitate experience exchange and sharing between three youth non-governmental organizations linked through the Youth of the Atlantic Treaty Association (at international level) and carrying out activities inside the Black Sea Youth Network (created by YATA) in order to discuss and analyze the last evolutions of the events in Transnistria, a separatist region of Moldova. The main aim of the project is to launch debates between young people at international level on: i) the last concepts for the resolution of the mentioned conflict made public by mediators and other involved bodies; ii) the dialogue between mediators and conflict parts; iii) the role of international institutions in enhancing the region’s security. Another aim is to review the media coverage of the issue in the neighboring countries (Romania and Ukraine). Also, a sociological survey among young people will be taken on the issue of Transnistrian crisis. Finally, the project aims at developing and adopting a common position paper of the three participating organizations on the above mentioned conflict.

The project is designed by G-2002 as a follow-up activity of the “Public debates on federalization” project (August-December 2004), financed by the Open Society Institute Zug Foundation. It will expand on the international level experience gained by G-2002 in launching debates on important political and social issues among young people and enhance cooperation with two partner organizations from the wider family of Youth of the Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA): Casa NATO – the Euro-Atlantic Council (Romania) and Youth Centre of the Atlantic Council (Ukraine). The three participating organizations are included in the Black Sea Youth Network created by YATA in November 2005. In the framework of the project the participants will be familiarized with the experience of collaboration between governmental bodies of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, in the resolution of the Transnistrian conflict. Special attention will be paid to the involvement of young people in debating the issue of regional security in the three countries, including the opportunities of using foreign practices in order to solve the kind of matters of regional security.

The project meaning is to retain the following results:

1. conducting and developing three study and experience exchange visits for YATA representatives from Moldova, Romania and Ukraine;

2. conducting a survey among young people in Moldova focused on Transnistrian crisis;

3. organization of conferences on regional security, focused particularly on Transnistria, in each country with the participation of experts in this matter, government, mass-media and NGO’s representatives, students and volunteers interested in debating this problem;

4. developing and adopting a common position paper by partner organization from Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, to be forwarded to the Black Sea Youth Forum and YATA;

5. discussing and agreeing upon future cooperation between the YATA organizations from the three countries.

Conference in Kiev, 20 October 2006

The project was launched through the International conference held in Kiev and organised by Youth Centre of the Atlantic Council of Ukraine, with participation of representatives of G-2002 (Moldova) and Casa NATO (Romania). The European University from Kiev was the host of the event, all the sessions been held in the conference hall of the mentioned university. The audience consisted mostly of students of International Relations and Political Science Departments, as well some representatives and leaders of local youth NGO’s.

The conference started with opening speeches of the leaders of implementing organizations: Oksana Hryhorieva, as chairman of Ukrainian side, made a brief presentation of the project; Alina Paun, as youth coordinator of Casa NATO and also Vice-chairman for Communication of Youth of the Atlantic Treaty Association, made a description of her both organizations, and Octavian Mahu, as president of G-2002, main implementing organization, made also a description of the project and expected results.

First round of speakers included Mrs. Cornelia Moscalova, representative of Ukrainian Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. Valeriu Gheorghiu, Dr., and Minister Councilor of Moldavian Embassy to Ukraine, and Mr. Romeo Stanciu, Minister Councilor of Romanian Embassy to Ukraine. All these officials presented key ideas of their Governments on the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, and been agree with following issues: the crisis should be solved peacefully, through negotiation process; the settlement of the conflict could be based only on keeping Republic of Moldova as a unitary state; and an efficient plan regarding settlement of crisis should base on “3D” mechanism – demilitarization, decriminalization and democratization. Also, the officials responded to the questions of young people regarding the efficiency of Ukraine so far in negotiation process, the sustainability of the idea of “federalization” of Moldova, differences between so called “Kozak plan” and “Poroshenko-Yushenko plan” etc.

In the next discussion panel a few local experts have been invited: Mr. Andrei Mishin, Director of Strategy Policy Institute, Mr. Volodimir Naghirnyi, independent expert and journalist, Mr. Jaroslav Matyichuk, Program Director of Centre of Strategy and Security Studies, Serhey Hackman, expert of a local analytical centre, Mr. Serhey Jerj, President of “Ukraine NATO” Civic League. All have made presentations and approaches to the issue of the Transnistrian crisis, on role of international bodies in mediating and monitoring the process, Ukrainian role in negotiation process – most of them considering been insufficient, the legal, economic and military aspects of the crisis etc.

The last panel of the conferences consisted in interaction of guest representatives with audience on different topics discussed earlier, the Moldovan delegation facing lots of questions regarding the genesis of Transnistrian conflict, last years evolutions in area, what Moldovan youth think about the settlement of the conflict and their expectations from Ukraine etc. The idea of involving in future activities of some NGO’s from Transnistria was also discussed, as well some proposals for continuing the project for the next year – probably by organizing simulations on negotiation format – and to test the idea for the next conference in Bucharest.

Conference in Bucharest, 4 November 2006

The conference in Bucharest was hosted by Casa NATO. The audience consisted of students and NGO representatives selected by hosts on application basis.

The event started with opening speeches of Mr. Nicolae Spiroiu, Executive Director of Euro-Atlantic Council Romania, former Defense Minister of Romania, Mr. Alex Serban, Executive President of Casa NATO – both sustaining the idea of organising such conferences and events with youth involving and cooperation between youth NGO’s from Moldova, Romania and Ukraine.

Once again, representatives of implementing organizations: Alina Paun, Casa NATO (Romania), Oksana Hryhorieva, YCACU (Ukraine) and Iulian Condur, G-2002 (Moldova) presented the goals and the last events carried in the framework of the project.

First panel of presentations and debates started with speeches of Mr. Dan Dungaciu, PhD, lecturer at University of Bucharest and political analyst, Mr. Adrian Pop, President of Eurisc Foundation, and Sever Voinescu, Project Coordinator of Romanian Public Policy Institute approaching the issue of Romania’s role in reaching a solution of the Transnistrian conflict and role to play through achieving of membership of European Union. They have been presented ideas on common strategic options of Romania and Moldova in geopolitics and security in Black Sea area, public opinion perception in Romania on foreign policy and international security focusing on Moldova, threats to Romanian borders through the existence of a crisis region etc.

The second panel of discussions concerning the role of international organizations in mediating the Transnistrian conflict started with presentations of Mr. Iulian Fota, Director of National Defense College, former Head of Romania Delegation to Parliamentary Assembly of NATO, Mr. Andrei Miroiu, Director of Center for Security and International Studies, Mr. Iulian Chifu, Director of Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning, regarding the enhancing international cooperation for tackling security threats in Moldova, role or neither for international organizations in mediating the conflict, lessons learned through international experience in crisis management etc. All the young participants had the opportunity to address some questions to speakers and experts.

The last activity of the conference was holding a simulation on negotiation format “5+2” + Romania n order to establish a sort of mechanism of the settlement of the conflict. The idea was to make participants to understand easier the positions in the format “5+2” by representing an other side than of the own country (for example Moldovan delegates represented through simulation “Russian Federation”, “Transnistria” and “Ukraine” in teams with Romanian students, and Ukrainians represented “Moldova”). Either has been impossible to establish a common “action plan” due to misunderstandings between “Russia” and “Moldova”, and weak ideas of mediators.

Conference in Chisinau, 15-17 November 2006

During 15-17 Novemebr 2006, in Chisinau was carried the last stage of the project "Transnistria - Rgional Security. Challenges and Opportunities". The event was organised and hosted by G-2002. As participants have been invited representatives of Youth Initiatives of Casa NATO (Romania) and Youth Centre of Atlantic Council (Ukraine), as well local participants, seleted on aplication basis.

The conference started with introductory remarks of Octavian Mahu, President of G-2002, Mrs.Ana Coretchi, Program East East Director of Soros-Moldova Foundation, Oksana Hryhorieva, President of Youth Centre of Atlantic Council of Ukraine and Ana Maria Dorobantu, representative of Casa NATO (Romania). First session of presentations and disscusions started with presentation made by Gen. Bernard Aussedat, Political-Military Officer to OSCE Misson to Moldova, focusing on OSCE position regarding continuing the negotiation process as well providing a position concerning reducing the tensions and enhancing conficdence in Transnistrian region of OSCE. Mr. Oazu Nantoi, Program Director of Public Policy Institute, presented the solutions proposed so far for settlment of the conflict, as well his own view and ideas concerning the transnistrian crisis.

The next presentation was made by Mr. Oleg Serebrian, MP, President of Social-Liberal Party, exposing the last initatives of Moldavian Parliament for settlement of the conflict, as well have been made some presentatons by Mr. Victor Doras, President of European Institute of Moldova, former councilor of Moldavian President Vladimir Voronin during 2001-2002, and Mr. Nicolae Tvetkov, lecturer at Faculty of International Relations and Political Science of Moldavian State University.

Second day of the conference started th presentation made by Mr. Alexandru Flentea, Head of Inoformation and Analysis Centre of Ministry of Reintegration of Moldova, concerning the negotiation collapse and implementation of so called "Yuschenko Plan", followed by Mr. Sergiu Burca, President of Euro-Atlantic Association of Moldova, focusing on NATO and EU capabilities for crisis management. The second session consisted from presentation of the survey carried by G-2002 regarding the youth perceptions in Moldova about transnistrian conflict and solution proposals, followed by a debate panel with leaders of youth branches of political parties from Moldova.

The last day of event concluded the disscusions held so far with an working group for drafting a position paper on transnistrian crisis, and should be proposed to other YATA organisations. Also, participants departed into a study trip to Tiraspol