The OSCE will support the activity of the parliamentary working group for examining the special status of Gagauzia, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors said in a meeting with Head of Parliament Andrian Candu. According to the Parliament’s press service, the discussions centered on the importance of adopting the strategy for integrating the national minorities of Moldova, which was worked out with the support of the OSCE, and on the developments in Gagauzia, IPN reports.

Andrian Candu said that a working group will be soon created to examine the special status of Gagauzia in accordance with the constitutional provisions. The group will consist of members of Moldova’s Parliament and of the Gagauz People’s Assembly. Representatives of the EU, OSCE, the Council of Europe and civil society will be invited as observers. The goal of this group is to ensure an institutional mechanism of permanent dialogue between Chisinau and Comrat and to deal with the current problems.

Astrid Thors said the OSCE will continue to offer Moldova expertise and assistance in efficiently integrating the national minorities. He welcomed the effort made by the Moldovan authorities to think up the strategy for integrating the national minorities and the launch of the consultations on it with civil society.