US AMBASSADOR TO MOLDOVA CALLED ON LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO RESIST PRESSURE AND THREATENING

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USA to Moldova James D. Pettit attended the Thursday's Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM) conference, dedicated to the Local Administration Day. He called on local mayors to keep adhering to the principle of transparency and citizens' interests despite pressure and threatening.

According to him, local authorities proved that responsible and open administration, directed at satisfying citizens' needs, leads to life improvement. Unfortunately, Moldova fell in the state administration rating, especially in the topic of corruption.

"It is sad to realize that the pressure on local authorities is widespread in Moldova. This often leads to the change of party affiliation, which has negative effect on the level of citizens' trust, which has been so hardly won", the diplomat said.

Ambassador Peter Michalko, Head of the European Union Delegation to Moldova assured local mayors and raion chairpersons that the EU is a reliable partner in the implementation of citizens' interests.

"Democratic changes in the country are possible, but only if these take place in all the corners of the country, but not only at the central or local level. We maintain that the cooperation of local authorities, the civil society and the private sector may lead to an efficient local development", he said.

Michalko called on the conference participants to reach a consensus at the level of local authorities in order that this period of history to be remembered as a period of rapid development, while people not to get new reasons for migration, as too many have already left.

The EU Delegation head said that with the support of the EU in Moldova, hundreds of thousands of people got access to water supply, infrastructure and green energy, as well as recommended to activate the cooperation with localities in Europe, which may become reliable development partners.