Liberty Summit: Free and Fair Moldova, Orhei - Main contents

swedeandsour / iStock.com

date	October 19, 2018 - October 20, 2018
city	Orhei, Moldavia
organisation	European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ACRE) i

The Liberty Summit

Liberty Summit: Free and Fair Moldova

Working for True Democracy

19 October-20 October 2018 | Orhei, Moldova

As with a number of eastern European countries that have emerged from communist rule, Moldova has become in name a constitutional and democratic state. Like many post-soviet nations, Moldova is primed for the development of free-market ideas, true democracy, and the rule of law and capitalism. The Moldova Summit aims to spark the changes needed for true democracy and prosperity in Moldova.

Democracy is the best and fairest system of government that man has so far devised, its principles allowing citizens to flourish and fulfil their own potentials. It is one of the most fundamental and important principles of the centre-right and as a result, it is of vital importance that the centre-right movement encourages and supports nations that are still making the shift.

A vital component of democracy is free and fair elections in which citizens can take to the ballot box without overhangs of corruption. Today, corruption can take the form of state-influenced press, coercion and crony capitalism. The Moldova Summit will give an opportunity to reaffirm ideological foundations of democracy, constitutionalism and personal liberty through free elections and the rule of law.

Ideology in Europe has become overshadowed by a colder political pragmatism. While pragmatism is an important value for conservatives, it must not completely overtake the other principles that work to create the centre-right ideology. If it does, we risk the extremes of right and left moving in to fill the void left by a lack of intellect and emotion in politics and for this reason, there is a greater need than ever for the continual re-articulation of the centre-right ideology - an ideology that protects and allows people to thrive.

The Moldova Summit aims to support the country’s goals for political and economic reforms that will empower the country’s relationship with Europe and the West, and to help develop a truer democracy where the rule of law can replace crony capitalism, corruption and poverty, and in their place provide the structures for the stability and prosperity of the Moldovan people.

Liberty Summit: Free and Fair Moldova

Why Moldova?

Moldova is a nation ready for true democracy. Doubtlessly huge strides have been made since independence in 1991, but there is still a distance yet to go. Moldova’s current political system is unique due to the country’s long geopolitical history: after 1991 there was a need for a complete overhaul of the political system in a country that had not governed itself for many years. Moving forward, there is much opportunity for the future as we conservatives can work with parties in Moldova, sharing our values and systems.

The difficult history of Moldova makes it a fitting location for our Moldova Summit. Countries such as Moldova deserve the support of the international community as they continue to grow from the efforts they have already made towards developing a true democracy, and our meeting of the centre-right provides the opportunity to do this. By working alongside Moldovan parties who advocate for closer relationships with the West, the centre-right international community can help to form those ties and assist in a political transformation through advancing democratisation.

With elections coming up soon in Moldova this conference comes at a crucial time for building relationships and conveying our conservative ideology. This next election in Moldova shall be the next step towards more transparency and accountability, and the eradication of corruption.

Liberty Summit: Free and Fair Moldova

LOCATION

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Chișinău.

Liberty Summit: Free and Fair Moldova

SPEAKERS

Jan Zahradil MEP

ACRE President, Vice-Chairman, International Trade Committee, European Parliament

web @ZahradilJan

Jan Zahradil is a Czech politician for the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and the president of the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe - ACRE. He has been a Member of the European Parliament since the Czech Republic entered the European Union in 2004. Zahradil also served as Member of Parliament for Prague from 1998 to 2004. In his current third term at the European Parliament, Zahradil is a member of the international trade committee, serving as its Deputy Chairman. He was one of the founding members of the euro-realist ECR group, which went on to become the third largest group in the European Parliament in 2014. In March of 2011 he was elected the ECR President, thus becoming the first Czech MEP ever to have become leader of an EP group.

Jan Zahradil MEP

ACRE President, Vice-Chairman, International Trade Committee, European Parliament

bio web @ZahradilJan

Ilan Shor

Chairman of the Political Party "Shor" and Mayor of Orhei

Ilan Shor is a businessman, philanthropist, and political and public figure in the Republic of Moldova. He is the Chairman of the Political Party “SHOR”, and Mayor of the municipality of Orhei. Ilan was born in 1987. His father Miron Shor was one of the first entrepreneurs in post-Soviet Moldavia. From early childhood, Ilan Shor joined the business of his father, learned from his experience, and participated in decision-making. By the age of 18, in the absence of his father, Ilan inherited a large business empire, including various fields - from duty-free to insurance. Having become the head of the business founded by his father, Ilan Shor successfully developed it. Within 30 years he became one of the most successful businessmen in the country. He had large assets in the banking sector, and at the moment, he actively participates in the management of the Chisinau International Airport, holding the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors.

In 2015, he decided to enter politics. He was elected as mayor of the municipality of Orhei, gaining more than 60% of the votes. With his team he has engaged in large-scale reforms and infrastructure modernization of the city. In 2016 he became the leader of the Political Party "SHOR". Under his leadership, the party is actively developing with more than 40 thousand members and regional branches operating all across Moldova. In addition to Orhei, a representative of the party won the local elections in one of the communes of the Orhei district.

Ilan is married to the popular pop singer Jasmine and together they have two children.

Ilan Shor

Chairman of the Political Party "Shor" and Mayor of Orhei

bio

Nino Goguadze MP

Member of the Parliament, Georgia

@Ngoguadze1

Nino Goguadze is currently First Deputy Chairperson of the Foreign Relations Committee and a member of the legal issues committee at the Parliament of Georgia. Her background in law began at university where she studied jurisprudence at the Georgian Technical University, and then law at Emory University School of Law. She began her work as a lawyer in 2005, before joining the Central Election Commission of Georgia in 2007. She stayed there for 7 years until she was elected into the City Assembly in Tbilisi. She was elected into the Georgian Parliament in 2016 as part of the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia electoral bloc.

Nino Goguadze MP

Member of the Parliament, Georgia

bio @Ngoguadze1

Richard Murphy

Managing Director of Communication Strategy and Management (CSM)

Richard Murphy is Managing Director of Communication Strategy & Management Ltd, a political campaigns’ consulting firm based in the UK. CSM works alongside British Members of Parliament and MEPs delivering professional advice on the construction and management of their communication strategies. With more than twenty five years’ experience of working professionally with the Conservative Party, Richard has campaigned with seven party leaders including Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Theresa May. He has a wealth of experience and expertise in structuring and managing grassroots election campaigns at European, Parliamentary and Local Government levels. He also played a leading role in the national grassroots organisation for the ‘Leave’ campaign during the UK’s referendum on exiting the EU in 2016. Richard specialises in training party members nationwide in “on the ground” field campaigning techniques. In particular, this includes volunteer capacity building, party structures, membership, campaign team creation, GOTV and polling day organisation. Richard has also trained campaigns’ activists in countries such as Trinidad & Tobago, Bosnia Herzegovina, Ukraine, Moldova, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro. Richard is a long-time member of the Institute of Leadership and Management. He is also a former Board member of both the European Association of Political Consultants and the International Association of Political Consultants and remains a leading and active member of both organisations.

Richard Murphy

Managing Director of Communication Strategy and Management (CSM)

bio

Sasa Radulovic MP

Leader of Enough is Enough, Serbia

Sasa Radulovic is a Serbian engineer, economist and politician. He is a former Minister of Economy for Serbia and the Leader of Enough is Enough, a political movement in Serbia. He has been a member of the National Assembly of Serbia since 2016.

Sasa Radulovic MP

Leader of Enough is Enough, Serbia

bio

Barbara Kappel MEP

Member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

@b_kappel

Barbara Kappel is a member of the European Parliament from Austria. She studied economics at Innsbruck University in Austria before finishing her PhD in economics at the Vienna University of Economics. Prior to entering politics, she worked as the Head of International Marketing at World Sports Ltd. Kappel then began working for the Austrian National Council in several positions from 1996-2006 and also served as Vice-President of the Federal Institute of International Education and Technology and as President of Austrian Technologies. At the European Parliament, she is a member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs; the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy; and part of the Delegation for relations with the United States as well as the Delegation for relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

Barbara Kappel MEP

Member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

bio @b_kappel

Rob Jonkman

President of the European Conservatives and Reformist Group in the Committee of Regions

@robjonkman

Rob Jonkman is the President of the ECR Group at the CoR. Since 2010, he has served as an Alderman of the municipality of Opsterland (the Netherlands). Before becoming Alderman, Mr. Jonkman represented the Christen Unie as council member within the municipality of Opsterland. Mr. Jonkman has been a member of the Commission Europe and International within the Dutch Association of Municipalities (VNG) since 2010 and has been a member of the advisory board of the Knowledge Centre Europa Decentraal since 2014.

Rob Jonkman

President of the European Conservatives and Reformist Group in the Committee of Regions

bio @robjonkman

Eli Hazan

Foreign Affairs Director, Likud Party, Israel

@realEliHazan

Eli Hazan is the Foreign Affairs Director of the Likud Party in Israel. He previously served as an adviser to the Israeli Minister of Education, as well as Parliamentary adviser to the Chairman of the Likud faction and the Coalition, and as Vice President of the Jerusalem Institute of Justice. He writes regular columns for "Mida" as well as occasional columns for other newspapers, magazines, and websites around the world. Hazan is one of the great advocates for free market and capitalism in Israel.

Eli Hazan

Foreign Affairs Director, Likud Party, Israel

bio @realEliHazan

Adri Nurellari

Political Advisor to the Speaker of the Parliament of Kosovo

Adri Nurellari is a political advisor of the President of the Democratic Party of Kosovo and Speaker of the Parliament of Kosovo, Mr. Kadri Veseli. He has worked as political advisor of the Prime Minister of Albania, as a technical advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, and as co-funder and general secretary of the Party for Justice Integration and Unity which became the fourth ranking parliamentary party in Albania.

Adri Nurellari

Political Advisor to the Speaker of the Parliament of Kosovo

bio

Neva Sadikoglu-Novaky

Secretary General of the ECR Group in the European Committee of the Regions

@NevaSadikoglu

Neva Sadikoglu-Novaky is the Secretary-General of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the EUs political assembly of local and regional representatives (European Committee of the Regions). She helped form the Group in 2013 and has been the Secretary-General since then. She now provides strategic advice and support to the Group’s presidency and manages the work of its secretariat. Previously, she worked in the European Parliament as a policy advisor. Her EU career began in 2010 in the Enlargement Strategy Unit of the European Commission’s former Enlargement Directorate-General.

Neva Sadikoglu-Novaky

Secretary General of the ECR Group in the European Committee of the Regions

bio @NevaSadikoglu

Armen Arzumanyan

Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies, Armenia

Armen Arzumanyan is the Deputy Minster of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies of the Republic of Armenia. He holds a PhD in Economics, and has published ten analytical and five research articles. He has previously worked as an economic consultant for projects funded by the US Government and World Bank, and is presently a visiting lecturer at three institutions including the International Scientific Educational Center.

Armen Arzumanyan

Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies, Armenia

bio

Branka Stamenković MP

Member of Parliament, Serbia

Branka Stamenković is the Member of Parliament at the Serbian National Assembly since June 2016. Her political involvement dates to 2014, when she became one of the first members of the newly founded Enough is Enough movement. Prior to this, she was a blogger who inspired the civic movement aimed at improving the health care in Serbian maternity wards. For this initiative, she received four awards.

Most of her career she was an entrepreneur who owned her own publishing and translation business.

She is serving as Deputy President of the Enough is Enough political organisation since April 2018..

Branka Stamenković MP

Member of Parliament, Serbia

bio

Andrianos Giannou

Director of European Affairs, New Europe

Andrianos Giannou is the Director of European Affairs of New Europe newspaper. He has previously served in various political positions, including as President of the Youth of the European People’s Party. In 2014, Andrianos co-founded the Transatlantic Youth Summit, a forum for the next generation of transatlantic leaders. Andrianos holds a BA in Economics and Politics from the University of Sheffield, a graduate diploma in law from City University London, and has earned an LLM from University College London. He is a member of the Association of European Journalists.

Andrianos Giannou

Director of European Affairs, New Europe

bio

Marina Tauber

Vice-President of Shor party, Mayor of the Commune Jora de Mijloc, and former President of the Moldovan Tennis Federation

Marina Tauber is Vice-President of the Shor party. She has also been Mayor of the Commune Jora de Mijloc since the 21st May 2018, which she won with 61.07% of the votes, and is the former President of the Moldovan National Tennis Federation.

Marina Tauber

Vice-President of Shor party, Mayor of the Commune Jora de Mijloc, and former President of the Moldovan Tennis Federation

bio

Rupert Matthews MEP

MEP for the East Midlands, UK

Rupert Matthews became MEP for the East Midlands in July 2017 following many years of campaigning on behalf of local people across the East Midlands. Prior to his election, Rupert worked in publishing writing a wide variety of children's and history books, including one on The Battle of Lincoln and food and drink in Leicestershire. Rupert's campaigning across the East Midlands Region has made a real difference for the Conservative Party. In 2012 he campaigned in all five of the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections, visiting each county in the East Midlands during Election Week. At the 2010 General Election Rupert campaigned in several target seats, helping our candidates to win seats from Labour.

Rupert Matthews MEP

MEP for the East Midlands, UK

bio

Fleur Butler

Fleur Butler was a member of the Council of Europe, and lead delegations for democratic election monitoring from Armenia to Bulgaria and has spoken in Strasbourg. She stood as an MEP and has run various campaigns. Her background is as a Management Consultant for the charity sector, before going into politics. She writes regularly for the Independent and Conservative Home.

Fleur Butler

bio

Robert Tyler

Robert studied at the University of Buckingham, the UKs first private university founded by Margaret Thatcher, where he earned a BA in History and Politics and an MA in Security and Intelligence Studies. He moved to Brussels in 2016 to work as a researcher and advisor on Foreign Policy, specialising in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Counter Terrorism. He became a Fellow of New Direction in 2017. He has written a number of articles for major UK publications and has made a number of appearances on the BBC.

Robert Tyler

bio

Reghina Apostolova

Deputy Mayor of Orhei and Shor Party Representative in Rascani

Reghina Apostolova is a well-known figure thanks to her political activity, both in Chisinau as well as in Orhei, where she has served as Deputy Mayor since 2015. At the local elections in May 2018, Reghina Apostolova ran for the mayoral office of Chisinau, but before the day of elections she was excluded, illegally and without cause, from the electoral race. She chose to be part of the team of the Shor Party because she is willing to make radical changes to improve living conditions for the country's citizens. She has been in the workforce since she was 16 years old. She worked at School No.14, today "Natalia Gheorghiu" High School, where she spent 46 years of which 22 as director. During this time, she educated and taught over 2500 students, who today work in many fields both in the country and abroad. For her work and her successes in the field of education, in 2007 she was decorated with the "Gloria Muncii" Order. Reghina has also accumulated extensive experience in local public administration. For eight years she held the position of counselor in the Chisinau Municipal Council.

Reghina Apostolova

Deputy Mayor of Orhei and Shor Party Representative in Rascani

bio

Valerian Cristea

Deputy Mayor of Orhei & Shor Party Representative in Telenesti Region

Born on 1 August 1950 in the village of Vaprova, Moldova, Valerian Cristea is a well-known figure in the Moldovan politics. He graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of Chisinau in 2003, and received his Ph.D. in Sociological Sciences. Over the years, he has held several important positions in the Republic of Moldova, including three deputy seats in Parliament, and in 2001 he was Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova. In the elections of April 2001, he campaigned in the election of the President of the Republic of Moldova. On March 1, 2007, by presidential decree, he was appointed as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Czech Republic. Since July 2015, Valerian Cristea has served as deputy mayor of Orhei. On July 28, 2000, Valerian Cristea was decorated by the President of the Republic of Moldova with the "Gloria Muncii" Order, "for long and fruitful work in the trade union organs, prodigious legislative activity and active participation in the social life of the country."

Valerian Cristea

Deputy Mayor of Orhei & Shor Party Representative in Telenesti Region

bio

Petru Jardan

General Director of Avia Invest LLC, Chisinau International Airport

Petru Jardan was born on 11th of March, 1976 in Lozova commune. He studied at the law at Moldovan State University with a specialization in international law. In 1999, he received his license and was hired at Chisinau International Airport as a lawyer. Almost twenty years of work at the airport have followed. In 2003, he was appointed as a Chief of Juridical Service and became a member of the Administrative Council, and four years later he became the consultant for the Airport CEO. Since 2008 Mr. Jardan has functioned as the operational director. Petru Jardan has a vision of making Chisinau Airport one of the competitive in the world. Since 2013, Petru Jardan has served as the General Director of the Avia Investment company that manages the Chisinau International Airport. For more than five years now, he has worked on the ambitious project of airport modernization, aimed at increasing the flights' security and passengers comfort. Petru Jardan joined the Shor Party to help bring significant changes to the Republic of Moldova, starting with ambitious and useful projects in its capital Chişinău.

Petru Jardan

General Director of Avia Invest LLC, Chisinau International Airport

bio

Liberty Summit: Free and Fair Moldova

AGENDA

Beyond the events of Friday and Saturday, there will also be a dinner in Chișinău on the evening of Thursday 18th, and opportunities to explore the city's tourist attractions on Sunday 21st.

Friday 19th October 2018

09:30

Visit to Old Orhei and Tourist Attractions

Departure from Hotels at 09:30

15:45

Tour of the Moldovan Parliament

17:00

Radisson Blu Hotel

19:30

Gala Dinner at Cricova Winery

DEPARTURE from HOTELS at 19:30

Saturday 20th October 2018

08:45

Departure to Orhei

10:30

Opening Speech by Jan Zahradil MEP, President of the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe

10:45

Panel discussion on Free and Fair Elections

Democracy depends on its elections being free, fair, without corruption, coercion or fear of either. Without this fundamental process, corruption and authoritarian regimes thrive and the needs of the people frequently become secondary. This panel will discuss this in relation to Moldova, a country that is still in the process of developing complete transparency in true democracy.

Moderator:

Speakers:

11:30

Keynote Speech by Reghina Apostolova, Deputy Mayor of Orhei and Shor Party Representative in Rascani

11:35

Coffee Break

11:50

Panel Discussion on the future of European political and economic integration

Emerging from their Soviet past, countries in Eastern Europe are in unique and exciting positions to expand their economies, solidify their democracies, and strengthen their political relationships around the world. This panel will host politicians in order to discuss their European and global orientation, and how their shared and similar geopolitical histories can be carried forward into the future to support their growth.

Speakers: