Does Moldova face the risk of experiencing the Ukraine scenario – intervention by another state on the pretext of ‘protecting’ the speakers of Russian, Romanian or Moldovan, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Gagauz etc? What should we do for the country’s people to feel at home in Moldova? IPN Agency is producing a series of articles where politicians, experts and representatives of national minorities provide answers to these and other questions.
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The conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the pro-European orientation of the Moldovan government affect the national minorities of Moldova, which have been pro-Russian for years, said the head of the National Roma Center of Moldova Nicolae Radita.
“There are Romanies who have Ukrainian and Russian nationality. The created conflict puts them before a choice – to decide which state they want to make common cause with. The pro-European policy of Moldova highlights the situation of uncertainty among the national minorities. They are not informed about the benefits of the pro-European course and do not know why they should not migrate to Ukraine or Russia for example,” said Nicolae Radita.
He also said that none of the rulers tried to bring the national minorities together and to discuss with them the country’s course and the benefits that they can enjoy. This emphasizes the perception that the politicians are indifferent to the problems of the minorities.
Asked about the risk of separatism promotion in the country or in some of its regions, Nicolae Radita said that such a danger exists, but the Romany people do not have the idea of separatism in the mind. “The minorities have greater expectations of the authorities. The greater the people’s dissatisfaction, the bigger the risks of separatism are. Given that dual nationality is accepted in Moldova and many citizens obtained the nationality of another state, we do not exclude that another state can represent them and can intervene in order to protect them,” said the head of the National Roma Center of Moldova. He added that in case of a conflict the Gagauz people, who live compactly, can be protected by Turkey.
Nicolae Radita considers that the manifestations of separatist can be dealt with by dialogue. “We, the Romany people, want our rights to be respected. We do not seek protection from another state. We want the minority group and its traditions to be recognized,” he stated. According to him, the state is obliged to protect its people. The authorities must use diplomatic methods to resolve the conflicts. It is well known that most of the wars are provoked by interethnic conflicts. That’s why the state must pay increased attention to the national minorities and to respect their rights.
Asked who and what should do for all the country’s people, regardless of the ethnicity, to feel at home in Moldova, Nicolae Radita said the state must adopt appropriate legislation to meet the needs of the minorities and to keep a balance between the social, economic and political interests. Russian should be declared the second official language in Moldova and the representation of the national minorities in the executive and decision-making process should be ensured (5-10 representatives of the minorities in Parliament). Consultative councils should be set up at central and local levels. The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages must be ratified and there should be created a fund to support the national minorities.
Alina Marin, IPN
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IPN note: In this series of articles, IPN also presented the opinions of Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, head of the International Relations and Politology Department of the Free International University of Moldova Mihai Cernencu, politologist Vitalie Andrievschi, who manages a network of information-analytical portals in Moldova and Ukraine (ava.md, apn.md, and avaukr.com), and head of the Union of Ukrainians of Moldova Svetlana Mislitski, program director at the Foreign Policy Association Victoria Bucataru, the Bashkan of Gagauzia Mihail Formuzal, Deputy Head of Parliament Andrian Candu, specialist in education economy and a consultant of the Mediation Council of Moldova Andrei Munteanu, the head of the Bulgarian community in Moldova Fiodor Sabii, and Communist MP Alla Mironic.
