Video Reportage on MOLDOVA1 TV Channel

Chişinău, 23 October 2009 — A UN Documentation Centre was opened today in the premises of the Regional Public Library in Comrat. This is the third Documentation Centre created by the UN Agencies in Moldova to inform citizens about UN values and the Organization’s work in the world and in Moldova. Similar Centres were opened at the State Universities in Balti and Cahul in 2001 and respectively 2003.

The Centre in Comrat was created in partnership with the World Bank and is part of the commemoration of the United Nations Day in Moldova, marked on October 24 each year.

The World Bank has opened information centres at the Academy of Economic Studies in Moldova and State University "Alecu Russo" in Balti.

„The opening of the UN Documentation Centre in Comrat sets a new stage in our cooperation with Gagauzia. By opening the Centre today we hope to bring the United Nations closer to Gagauz people—through access to UN information and experience", said Kaarina Immonen, UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova at the inauguration ceremony of the Centre in Comrat.

Major objectives of the Centre include increasing the awareness and knowledge of people, in particular of young people, about the UN and WB values and activities in the world, their Agencies and programmes in Moldova, strengthening the links between the youth and WB & UN Agencies, through the promotion of an essential two-way information sharing process and increasing the participation of the youth in various activities. The beneficiaries of the Centre – students of the University and other educational establishments in Comrat as well as local public authorities, civil society organizations and general public – will have access to the most recent publications and reports, video and audio materials, computers and access to internet to explore the World Bank and United Nations work.

"The World Bank is pleased to join efforts with our colleagues in the UN system in opening a new documentation Centre in Comrat. We believe this is an important milestone in our support for the local student community as well as for the general population of Comrat and surrounding areas. This Centre will help the population learn more about the work of both institutions in Moldova, in addition to providing a platform for accessing knowledge and information," said Melanie Marlett, World Bank Country Manager for Moldova.

The Republic of Moldova joined the United Nations on March 2, 1992. Moldova has ratified a series of international agreements and UN Conventions. The UN Country Team in Moldova includes several UN agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Organization for Migration (IOM), National Commission for UNESCO, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Bretton Woods Institutions – International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

More pictures are available on World Bank page on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=156341&id=137971822618&ref=mf 

or access the album from World Bank in Moldova main page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/World-Bank-in-Moldova/137971822618