The new Bashkan (Governor) of Gagauzia Irina Vlah swore a solemn oath in Comrat. The inauguration was attended by Head of Parliament Andrian Candu, Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici, Metropolitan Bishop Vladimir and members of the diplomatic corps, IPN reports.
The new Governor said she will observe the Constitution and the Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia and will join no political organization. She thanked the people of Gagauzia for giving their votes to a woman candidate and electing thus the first woman Bashkan, by the first round of voting, which is for the first time in the region’s electoral history. Vlah assured she will be a guarantor of peace and stability.
Speaker Andrian Candu said everyone must make effort for the people of Moldova to live better. A communication platform must be created for dealing with the problems faced by the residents of Gagauzia, many of which must be solved immediately. Nowhere do the ethnic minorities feel better than in the EU, while the Association Agreement signed by Moldova and the EU guarantees their rights. Unity is needed to help solve the problems in the country.
In his speech, the Premier said he is sure that Irina Vlah will manage to do what’s best for the inhabitants of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia. He thanked former Bashkan Mihail Formuzal for his work and devotion. “The Government of Moldova is near you and will do its utmost to make sure that we achieve nice results together. Only together, by communication, cooperation and open dialogue, can we achieve results,” stated Chiril Gaburici, adding that in Moldova there are different ethnic groups, but all of them live in one country and should thus make effort for this country to be better.
Mihail Formuzal said that for the first time the new Bashkan is inaugurated at a public ceremony. He noted that during his eight-year tenure, he was supported by the friends of the Gagauz people – Turkey, Russia, and the European Union.
Irina Vlah was elected as Bashkan of Gagauzia on March 22.
