OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors is paying a visit to Moldova. The official had a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Natalia Gherman with whom he discussed the integration of the national minorities into society, the situation in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia and the necessity of including the autonomous region in the economic development and European integration processes as well as the situation of the Latin-script schools working in the Transnistrian region, IPN reports.

According to a communique of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Astrid Thors said the discussion centering on the way the OSCE can assist the Moldovan authorities in implementing reforms in accordance with the European standards, including in ensuring the protection of the national minorities, was productive.

Natalia Gherman noted that the interethnic cohesion is an indispensable element of the sociopolitical stability, while the keeping of the cultural, linguistic and religious identity of the national minorities is a priority for the Moldovan authorities.