On a visit to the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia, Head of OSCE Mission says Moldova’s diversity to be embraced with respect and tolerance

The Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Claus Neukirch paid a working visit to the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia on 24 September 2019. The Head of Mission met with Bashkan of Gagauzia Irina Vlah and the Speaker of the People's Assembly Vladimir Kissa. 

“Gagauzia has always been high on the agenda of the OSCE. A well-functioning Gagauz autonomy sends an important positive signal to the Transdniestrian settlement process,” Neukirch said. “We look forward to the resumption of the political dialogue between the Moldovan Parliament and the People’s Assembly. This dialogue should result in fully affirming Gagauzia’s special status as outlined in the 1994 law and in streamlining respective legislative acts,” Neukirch concluded. 

During his visit, the Head of Mission made a tour of the Fujikura Automotive factory, which is located in the Free Economic Zone. In Kongaz, he visited a kindergarten where the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) piloted a bilingual education programme in the Gagauz and Romanian languages for children attending Russian language pre-schools. 

“Gagauzia is an important part of Moldova because of its economic activity and linguistic diversity,” said Neukirch. “It represents Moldova’s complex ethnic make-up, which needs to be embraced with respect and tolerance.” 

From 2014 to 2017, the HCNM has been facilitating bilingual education in the state language and Gagauz at pre-school institutions in Gagauzia and has funded programmes for teaching civil servants the state language nationwide. In recent years, the OSCE Mission and the HCNM, support the Moldovan Government’s efforts to take over the responsibility of promoting bilingual education through implementing an action plan for the National Strategy on the Consolidation of Interethnic Relations.