Governor Mihail Formuzal of Gagauzia has invited international observers to monitor the elections for the People’s Assembly, the autonomy’s legislative body, by issuing an open letter addressed to the diplomatic missions accredited in Chisinau, the OSCE Mission to Moldova, an to all international organisations providing election monitoring support. Gagauzia’s intention is to hold democratic and transparent elections, says Governor Formuzal, expressing his confidence that the support of the international observers will help to consolidate the image of Gagauzia as a democratic region, following the governor’s elections in December 2006. Moldova’s central electoral authority has already pledged support to the regional electoral body in organising the elections. “We will be there to offer our assistance to the Comrat-based CEC on election day” said Renata Lapti, vice-president of the Central Election Commission (CEC). CEC has accredited the first five international observers from the National Democratic Institute for the Assembly’s elections, due on March 16.