In telephone interviews on 15 and 18 April 1997, a professor in the department of government at Georgetown University in Washington, who specializes in southeastern European politics and government and who was most recently in Moldova in August 1996 conducting field research, provided the following information. The professor did not believe that ethnic Ukrainians in Moldova encounter any serious difficulty, apart from economic deprivations resulting from the transition from a centrally planned economy to a market economy, or that they are subjected to widespread discrimination. However, the professor added that he would not discount the possibility that there may be instances in which they are subjected to informal discriminatory practices by authorities or employers.

Corroborating information on the above-mentioned topic could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Georgetown University, Washington. 18 April 1997. Telephone interview with professor of government.

_____. 15 April 1997. Telephone interview with professor of government.

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Report. Yearly.

CSCE Digest [Washington]. Monthly.

DIRB country file on Moldova.

DIRB databases.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports.

Human Rights Watch World Report. Yearly.

Minority Rights Group International Report. Yearly.

Nationalities Papers [Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK]. Quarterly.

News from Helsinki Watch [New York]. Monthly.

Transition [Prague]. Monthly.

Uncaptive Minds [New York]. Quarterly.

On-line search of media sources.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact other oral sources.