2006 News Archive

AMBASSADOR KIRBY HOLDS ROUNTABLE WITH TRANSNISTRIAN MEDIA

December 21, 2006

Ambassador Kirby hold roundtable with transnistrian media

Ambassador Michael Kirby held a roundtable chat with mass media representatives from Transnistria in Chisinau to discuss issues of interest to both sides.  Seven journalists representing the print and electronic media were present at the roundtable held at the Public Affairs Section Information Resource Center.  In his opening statement, the Ambassador told the reporters that he had invited them to start a conversation through them with the people of Transnistria.  Emphasizing that the United States is a friend of all the people of Moldova, including in Transnistria, the Ambassador said: “By engaging with your colleagues, other elements of civil society and with community leaders, we hope to clarify certain misconceptions that many people in Transnistria may have about the West.”  The Ambassador also underlined the fact that the U.S. Embassy already runs some programs in the region but that he also wants “to discuss a possible role that you can play in implementing Moldova's Threshold Country Program, which is a Millennium Challenge Corporation-funded initiative to support the fight against corruption in Moldova.”  A lively dialogue then began between the Ambassador and the journalists lasting more than an hour.  The Ambassador told those present he would look favorably on any invitation to speak at an institution of higher learning in Transnistria and that he would accept requests for one-on-one interviews from Transnistrian media.