The Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, as the whole Moldova, wants to benefit from the provisions of the Association Agreement with the EU, to attract more investments and to export its products to the European market. But the people in Gagauzia are confused as the central authorities speak about European values, but act in an opposite way. Such an opinion was stated by the executive director of the Comrat Youth Center “Piligrim-Demo” Mihail Sirkeli.
“The cause of the developments in Gagauzia should be looked for not in Comrat or Moscow, but in Chisinau. The legislation on the autonomous unit’s status is not implemented. Things would have been different if the official Chisinau hadn’t given its tacit consent. The central power does not consider it necessary to discuss its actions with the regions,” Mihail Sirkeli said in the public debate “Chances of a civilized dialogue between Chisinau and Comrat and its dangerous alternatives”, organized by IPN Agency.
As to the decision of the People’s Assembly to hold two referendums in the region, one on the country’s foreign development course and another one on the Gagauz people’s right to become independent if Moldova loses its sovereignty, Mihail Sirkeli said such an initiative was proposed a year ago, but Chisinau didn’t react then.
“There is a myth about Moldova’s union with Romania and this myth is maintained as the central authorities do not talk to the people who are afraid of this union. In Gagauzia, they think that Moldova can be swallowed up by Romania. Chisinau should have reacted when the first actions were taken. A lot of problems accumulated. Nobody wants to offer more powers to the regions, but the regions no long want to obey,” he said.
The executive director of “Piligrim-Demo” also said that the Gagauz authorities are actually trying to slap the central authorities so as to attract their attention to the key problems in Gagauzia. “I hope the dialogue between Comrat and Chisinau was launched no only with the aim of calming things down. The powers and status of Gagauzia should be reviewed. I think they should allow holding the referendum sand then should start dealing with the major problems,” he stated.
Mihail Sirckeli added that the referendums may be invalidated if the voter turnout is low. In such a case, the organizers will not suffer losses from political viewpoint.
The debate “Chances of a civilized dialogue between Chisinau and Comrat and its dangerous alternatives” is the 25th of the series “Development of political culture by public debates”, which is supported by the German foundation “Hanns Seidel”.
