During the last years, important geopolitical changes took place in the broader area of Eastern Europe, having as a consequence, among others, the change of policy and strategy in many fields such as social, economical, commercial, scientific e.t.c. It was a contemporary demand to have a meeting of scientists from various countries and especially from countries of the Eastern Europe and the Balkan area, where the various problems concerning the scientific, technological and research fields could be studied and discussed. The goals of this meeting would be: mutual information, broadening of cooperation possibilities through common research programs, as well as possible development of a common policy in certain sections of science and technology of mutual interest. The realization of this meeting, which came true with the initiative, the moral of the NATO Scientific Affairs Division gave the and full economical support pursued results included in the present volume. It was my pleasure to act as the Director of the NATO ARW and I am most grateful to the NATO Scientific Affairs Division for the financial support and especially to its Programme Director, Dr. Alain Jubier, whose contribution to every step of the workshop was essential so that this meeting would be effective.

This volume features the proceedings of the NATO AR Workshop held in Kishinev, the capital of Moldova, a fom1er Soviet Republic in the South Eastern Europe. OUiing 3 working days 26 reports were presented, 8 of them by, or in collaboration with, speakers from Kishinev. The reports arc presented in the order they were given at the Workshop. As the topic was rather wide-ranged, all the sittings were plenmy. The opening communication was made by the Mayor of Kishinev S. Urckian, who was the Chainnan of the Organizing Committee. It was followed by other reports of general orientation. The second half of the first day was devoted to the research results and problems of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova. On the second day the Workshop was hosted by the Technical University of Moldova. At the beginning, the ceremonial sitting of its Scientific Council took place, at which two scientists were made doctors Honoris Causa of that University: Prof. K. Frolov from Russia and Prof. G.Parissakis from Greece. Then the plenary sessions continued. The round-table talk, held in the second half of the last day, appeared to be very fruitful. A relaxed and friendly atmosphere of it was appropriate for establishing closer contacts and discussing problems of mutual interest for scientists, ingineers, managerial heads and officers and businessmen."

During the last years, important geopolitical changes took place in the broader area of Eastern Europe, having as a consequence, among others, the change of policy and strategy in many fields such as social, economical, commercial, scientific e.t.c. It was a contemporary demand to have a meeting of scientists from various countries and especially from countries of the Eastern Europe and the Balkan area, where the various problems concerning the scientific, technological and research fields could be studied and discussed. The goals of this meeting would be: mutual information, broadening of cooperation possibilities through common research programs, as well as possible development of a common policy in certain sections of science and technology of mutual interest. The realization of this meeting, which came true with the initiative, the moral of the NATO Scientific Affairs Division gave the and full economical support pursued results included in the present volume. It was my pleasure to act as the Director of the NATO ARW and I am most grateful to the NATO Scientific Affairs Division for the financial support and especially to its Programme Director, Dr. Alain Jubier, whose contribution to every step of the workshop was essential so that this meeting would be effective.

This volume features the proceedings of the NATO AR Workshop held in Kishinev, the capital of Moldova, a fom1er Soviet Republic in the South Eastern Europe. OUiing 3 working days 26 reports were presented, 8 of them by, or in collaboration with, speakers from Kishinev. The reports arc presented in the order they were given at the Workshop. As the topic was rather wide-ranged, all the sittings were plenmy. The opening communication was made by the Mayor of Kishinev S. Urckian, who was the Chainnan of the Organizing Committee. It was followed by other reports of general orientation. The second half of the first day was devoted to the research results and problems of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova. On the second day the Workshop was hosted by the Technical University of Moldova. At the beginning, the ceremonial sitting of its Scientific Council took place, at which two scientists were made doctors Honoris Causa of that University: Prof. K. Frolov from Russia and Prof. G.Parissakis from Greece. Then the plenary sessions continued. The round-table talk, held in the second half of the last day, appeared to be very fruitful. A relaxed and friendly atmosphere of it was appropriate for establishing closer contacts and discussing problems of mutual interest for scientists, ingineers, managerial heads and officers and businessmen."