200+ public Gagauz servants to learn official language

218 mayors, lawyers, doctors, accountants employed in the Gagauz autonomy will attending beginners classes in Romanian as from January 15, 2009, Info-Prim Neo reports. The idea belongs to the National Association of European Trainers (ANTEM) and to the IDIS Viitorul think tank, with the financing of the Hague-based OSCE's High Commissioner on National Minorities. Gaguzia's Education Direction chief Vera Balova says learning Romanian will help her in her work. “Given by position I have to attend different regional and national reunions. As translation lacks, I cannot join in debates and cannot express my view,” the civil servant says. ANTEM's director Lucia Cucu says mastering the official language enables functionaries to effectively integrate into their communities. “The language, once employed for efficient communicating, become a l binder, favoring inter-human relations and, implicitly, the social-professional integration of citizens,” Lucia Cucu argues. The ANTEM network of professionals was set up in 2005, following the IDIS Viitorul's idea to respond to the demand of language training for non-Moldovan citizens and foreign citizens in Moldova. From 2005 to 2008, over 500 public servants from area lived by non-Moldovans speakers have studied the official language.