A National Participation Council composed of representatives of 30 NGOs working in different areas was created under the Government of Moldova. The first meeting of the Council held on February 2 was chaired by Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Info-Prim Neo reports. The meeting elected the administration of the National Participation Council. Sorin Mereacre, executive director of Eurasia Foundation in Moldova, was elected as chairman of the Council, while Ecaterina Mardarovici, president of the Women's Political Club 50/50, as deputy chairwoman. The Council's Standing Bureau includes Petru Macovei, executive director of the Association of Independent Press, Sergiu Ostaf, head of the Resources Center for Human Rights NGOs, Dinu Armasu, head of the Foreign Investors Association, Antonita Fonari, head of the Resource Center “Young and Free”, and Alexandru Coica, head of the National Youth Council. Prime Minister Vlad Filat said he expects the National Participation Council will help make decisions. He announced that three members of the Council will accompany the Moldovan governmental delegation to the Donors' Meeting in Brussels that will take place on March 24. Vlad Filat also said the chairman of the Council will have the right to attend the meetings of the Government. Most of the members of the Council said they would like to see the draft Government Decisions before they are adopted so as to analyze them more thoroughly. Victor Chirila, executive director of the Foreign Policy Association, said the civil society of Moldova needs the Government's assistance in implementing the most successful projects. In the same connection, Sorin Mereacre said the foreign donors that supported financially Moldova's civil society intend to withdraw so that the NGOs will need protection. Ion Manole, head of Promo-Lex Association, which defends the human rights in the Transnistrian region, said the present Government should devote grater attention to the problems faced by the Transnistrians. Filat promised the given issues will be raised, including within international organizations. At the next meeting, the Council will formulate the plan of action. The members of the National Participation Council work on a voluntary basis. They held the post for two years.