A conversation with
H.E. Iurie Leancă
Prime Minister
Republic of Moldova
@IurieLeanca

Welcome by
Mr. Frederick Kemp
President and CEO
Atlantic Council
@FredKempe

Introduction by
The Hon. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.
Chairman
Atlantic Council
@JonHuntsman

Featuring
H.E. Björn Lyrvall
Swedish Ambassador to the US
@Bjornly

Ms. Annette Heuser
Executive Director
Bertelsmann Foundation
@AnnetteHeuser

Mr. David J. Kramer
President
Freedom House
@FreedomHouseDC

Moderated by
Damon Wilson
Executive Vice President
Atlantic Council
@DamonMacWilson

Russia’s seizure of Crimea from Ukraine has sent a chilling message to those nations in Europe’s East that are pursuing integration with Europe. Prime Minister Iurie Leanca of Moldova is visiting Washington today for now urgent talks about how the United States and Europe can support reform-minded democracies in the region and deter further Russian aggression.

Moldova remains one of the bright spots of progress in Eastern Europe even as President Putin’s latest move calls into question the future trajectory of the region and undermines the vision of a Europe whole, free and at peace. In spite of significant intimidation, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca has unequivocally committed Moldova to a European path, initialing an association agreement with the European Union at the same November 2013 Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit at which former President Yanukovych abandoned Ukraine's European course. Like Georgia and now Ukraine, Moldova is also the victim of separatism fueled and financed by Moscow in the region of Transnistria.

Leanca, who is making his first visit to Washington as prime minister at the invitation of the White House, will offer his views on the current state of Europe’s East, and will discuss Moldova's efforts to undergo a transformation from the "poor man of Europe" to a model for its neighbors.  

Atlantic Council President Fred Kempe will open this event and Council Chairman Governor Jon Huntsman will introduce the prime minister. Following the prime minister’s remarks, Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson will moderate a conversation with the prime minister who will be joined by Annette Heuser of the Bertelsmann Foundation, Ambassador Bjorn Lyrvall of Sweden, and David Kramer of Freedom House. The panel will consider the impact of Russia’s actions on the aspirations of Moldova and other Eastern Partners and discuss the way ahead for the European Union and the United States.

 

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