On 14 November 2025, Comrat State University hosted the round table “Dialogue and Participation – Civil Dialogue Platform in ATU Gagauzia”, organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden in the Republic of Moldova, CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, and the Center for Regional Policies and Reforms. The event brought together civil society representatives, experts, students, and partners interested in strengthening public dialogue in the region. The round table opened with a welcome coffee and registration, followed by the official session.
Opening remarks were delivered by:
- Steve Young, Senior Advisor, CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation;
- H.E. Petra Lärke, Ambassador of Sweden to the Republic of Moldova;
- Igor Guseinov and Mihail Shalvir, representatives of the Center for Regional Policies and Reforms;
- Assoc. Prof. PhD Serghei Zaharia, Rector of CSU.
In his address, the Rector emphasized the importance of developing initiatives aimed at strengthening public dialogue within the university — a space of knowledge, critical thinking, and open discussion. He underlined that CSU has always supported, and will continue to support, projects focused on the development of democracy, youth leadership, civic engagement, and the improvement of regional policy. He expressed confidence that the creation of the Civil Dialogue Platform will be a significant step toward strengthening trust and cooperation in Gagauzia.
Participants were presented with the concept of the Platform: its goals, mission, principles, structure, the key stages of institutional development, and the roles of the partners. Special attention was given to how the Platform can contribute to a sustainable public dialogue and to strengthening the role of civil society in regional decision-making.
The discussion addressed the following topics:
- effective interaction formats between the People’s Assembly, Executive Committee, and civil society;
- priority topics for the first working groups;
- mechanisms for ensuring transparency and broad participation;
- the role of the Platform in monitoring and analyzing regional policies;
- optimal communication channels and online engagement tools.
Participants exchanged ideas and proposals, shaping a vision for how the Platform can become a sustainable mechanism for strengthening dialogue and cooperation. During the interactive session, a roadmap for the Platform's development was presented, participants shared their suggestions, discussed next steps, and identified future cooperation formats. The event concluded with a summary of key outcomes and agreed-upon steps for further work.
