Antidiscrimination law is a political-diplomatic mistake, analyst

Things went too far as regards the antidiscrimination law and it is not possible to return to negotiations. Its implementation is negotiated in the context of the plan on the liberalization of the visa regime between Moldova and the EU, political analyst Corneliu Gurin stated for Info-Prim Neo. The analyst believes it is a tactical error made by those who negotiated the given plan and those who promoted the law, this being a political-diplomatic mistake. “I think it is a confusion as a number of laws could be amended other way. There could be implemented reforms, not promoted a separate law. There are a set of laws in Moldova that ban sex, racial, religious discrimination,” said Corneliu Gurin. According to the political analyst, the way in which sexual nondiscrimination is treated aroused disputes in society. It is regarded as a law that promotes nondiscrimination of the sexual minorities. The EU will see it if the phrase “sexual orientation” is omitted and Moldova will be penalized. “If “sexual orientation” is left out, we will not have a comprehensive law, as the EU requested. We will not have good legislation as the sexual minorities will be discriminated,” Iulia Marcinschi, of the Nondiscrimination Coalition, stated for the Agency. “If the phrase “sexual orientation is omitted, the Church will not be against the adoption of this law. We know that without the given phrase the law will be incomplete and cannot be passed. But we want the given law and the visa issue to be discussed separately. They should not depend on each other,” said Vadim Cheibas, secretary of the Moldovan Metropolitan Church. Annalist Corneliu Gurin said the the Church and the religious groups address the issue in a narrow way. “If such problems do not exist, they should not oppose this law as its blocking means the blocking of other discrimination forms as well. The leaders of the PCRM, PL and PDM said their parliamentary groups will not vote for the antidiscriminator law as the family with a father and a mother is an old Christian value that is very important for the development of society. “Politicians should be attentive to the statements they make. As opinion leaders, they convey an indirect message, showing they encourage discrimination,” said Iulia Marcinschi. The antidiscrimination bill was approved by the Government on February 17 and submitted to Parliament for adoption.