The referendums that the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia intends to hold on February 2 will not have legal effects as no court will validate their results, considers the executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT Igor Botan. According to him, these referendums are rather the expression of political acts.
However, the expert warned about the situation created in Ukraine after the administration suspended the association with the EU. Igor Botan said the central authorities and the Gagauz authorities should have discussions and try to avoid conflicts based on ethnicity. “We should not forget about the situation in Kiev. In Moldova, it is dangerous to start an ethnic dispute,” Igor Botan said in the public debate “Chances of a civilized dialogue between Chisinau and Comrat and its dangerous alternatives”, staged by IPN Agency.
The expert stated that he does not understand why the administration of Gagauzia hurries to organize the two referendums – one on the external development course of the country and another one on the Gagauz people’s right to declare their independence if Moldova loses its sovereignty. “The referendum questions are not formulated concurrently. There is a risk that there will appear confusion. Both Chisinau and Comrat know that most of the people in Gagauzia are for integration into the Eurasian Union. The People’s Assembly could delegate the Governor of Gagauzia to inform the Cabinet that the population does not support the European integration course. It’s simple,” stated Igor Botan.
He added that by the referendum on the independence of Gagauzia they question the independence of Moldova. “None of the citizens of this country put such questions. I urge the Gagauz people not to be afraid of the statements of the Romanian President Traian Basescu. They should ask by a letter whether Romania keeps the status of Gagauzia in case of a possible union with Moldova. You can propose a legislative initiative to organize a parallel referendum in Gagauzia if Moldova decides to hold a plebiscite on the union with Romania. Sometimes, the union with Romania is compared with the unification of Germany. It is practically impossible, but some of the people live with this ideal and we cannot prevent them from doing this,” said the expert.
As Moldova signs an association agreement with the EU, there is no need to hold a referendum because they thus make the relations with the EU equal to the relations established with the CIS. “A referendum would be needed to ask the people if they want the country to join the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Custom Union, as this would mean separation. There is only a simple association with the EU. We should make effort to see what’s there. If we are not contented, we can anytime give up,” stated Igor Botan.
The expert believes that about 90% of the voters in Gagauzia will say that they are for Eurasian integration, while 95% will say that they want to become independent if Moldova loses the status of sovereign state. “What should a referendum be held for?” he asked.
The debate “Chances of a civilized dialogue between Chisinau and Comrat and its dangerous alternatives” is the 25th of the series “Development of political culture by public debates”, which is supported by the German foundation “Hanns Seidel”.
