President of the Centrist Union from Moldova (UCM) Vasile Tarlev said Thursday, December 25 in Ankara that he “granted autonomy to the Gagauz turks from Moldova, when he was a premier,” writes the Turkish web publication Today's Zaman, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. The Chisinau Parliament instituted the Gagauz Autonomy in 1995. Tarlev said in Ankara that if he becomes president he will enact quotas for Turkish Gagauz representatives in public office. He noted that at least one of the vice leaders and one of the deputies in each ministry would be of Turkish Gagauz origin. Vasile Tarlev introduces himself in Turkey as presidential candidate. He said there are Gagauz Turks living in many other countries but that the only country where they have autonomy is Moldova. Tarlev has that Moldova, “which has been governed by a communist party leader for the past eight years, should undergo a transformation and adopt a policy of balance in its foreign policy.” He added that if he regains power, he envisages a militarily neutral country which is also neutral in its relations with Russia and the European Union. He stressed that they will neither be involved in NATO nor in a military formation led by Russia. But he said he will work toward EU membership for Moldova. In next year’s elections, Tarlev will struggle against the radical left, which favors unity with Russia, and the radical right, which favors unity with Romania. Tarlev was invited by the Eurasia Democracy Association in Ankara. During his visit, he had talks with officials from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).