A number of 224 mayors of the about 900 consider the current government did not establish an efficient dialogue with the local public authorities (LPAs) and are against the restoration of counties. The given mayors form part of the Association of Mayors and Local Collectives of Moldova, which held a conference on Monday, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Association's chairman Vasile Panciuc, the mayor of Balti municipality and a representative of the Communists Party, expressed his concern about the intention to launch a new administrative-territorial reform and about the liquidation of the Ministry of Local Public Administration by the present government. He said that this institution was the only bridge between the government and mayors' offices. “The mayors have not yet reached a consensus with the central administration and there have been implemented many nondemocratic changes that hinder the development in rural areas,” Panciuc said. During the general assembly of the Association of Mayors and Local Collectives held on February 12, the members of the organization stressed the necessity of establishing an efficient partnership between the Association and the central public authorities so as to prevent the deepening of the economic, social and political crisis in Moldova and ensure the continuity, stability and durability of the economic and social processes. In a statement, the members of the Association expressed their concern about the non-transparent and nondemocratic methods by which the problems faced by the LPAs are tackled as the basic principles of the local public authorities defined in article 109 of the Constitution are violated. The mayor of Stefan Voda town Anghel Gheorghe, who is the chairman of the Association's Senate, said the mayors are ready to cooperate with the central authorities and expect that the present government will consult the mayors before initiating the new administrative-territorial reform. He stressed that the previous reform was not successful and had a negative impact on the population. The mayor of Vadul lui Voda town Iurie Onofreichuk, a member of the Association's Executive Board, said the development of the settlements depends greatly on the attitude of the central authorities. “Unfortunately, not much was done in Vadul lui Voda lately. The sand on the flooded beach has not been yet replaced. The attitude towards such a health resort as Vadul lui Voda should be different,” the mayor said. The members of the Association called on the international organization to take attitude towards the Moldovan politicians and assess their work as they must not promote the interests of certain parties and politicians who manipulate the public opinion, but the interests of all the people. The Association of Mayors and Local Collectives of Moldova has 306 members.