Gagauzia dialogue transitions to a hybrid meeting format

The dialogue between Comrat and Chisinau continues. The Parliamentary Working Group on Gagauzia met in a hybrid format to report on activities conducted during the pandemic period and agree on a joint Work Plan.   

The Parliamentary Working Group on Gagauzia met in a hybrid format in Comrat .

The Gagauzia Dialogue process continues to bring concrete results. Following a successful series of online meetings conducted through the pandemic period, the Parliamentary Working Group on Gagauzia met in a hybrid format on September 22, facilitated by CMI. The formal meeting took place in Comrat and was attended both in-person and online by members of the Working Group, including members of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova and the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia, and experts.

During the meeting, the participants identified key priorities in the Working Group’s Action Plan, discussed the Activity Report summarizing the Group’s work during the first semester of the year, and examined amendments to a number of laws in the field of culture that intend to clarify competences in specific areas.

Mr. Vlad Batrincea, Working Group Co-Chair and member of Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, attended the meeting online.

“I propose [that we] support the plan outlining our short-term priorities, and to involve the Government, experts and relevant bodies in [our work] in order to obtain information on the resources needed to learn the state language … [and] also on other topics requested by members of the Working Group”, said Mr. Vlad Batrincea, Working Group Co-Chair and member of Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.

As a result of the discussions, key topics related to the fields of culture, education and ecology; mechanisms and procedures governing relations between the Center and ATU Gagauzia; policy development; socio-economic development and more were included into the Work Plan of the Parliamentary Working Group on Gagauzia.

Mr. Gheorghii Leiciu, the Co-Chair of the Group from the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia.

The Co-Chair of the Group from the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia, Mr. Gheorghii Leiciu, said “The meeting was productive, and we achieved the proposed goals. We have a work plan that we intend to fulfill by the end of the year. At the same time, I am glad that the Group’s activity has continued despite the pandemic and the challenges we encountered, and the Activity Report reflects the Group’s results”.

At the end of the meeting, the members of the Working Group agreed on the interpellation of the ministries for reporting on various topics and information relevant to the implementation of the Group’s activities. In next period, the delegated members of the parliamentary parties and the representatives of the People’s Assembly of ATU Gagauzia will continue to meet in formal and informal meetings to continue the dialogue process.

The dialogue between Members of Parliament and the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia is facilitated by the CMI within the “Gagauzia Dialogue” project, funded by Sweden. The Parliamentary Working Group on Gagauzia was created in November 2015 at the initiative of the Speaker of the Parliament to improve the functioning of Gagauz autonomy in the constitutional framework of the Republic of Moldova, based on the 1994 Law on the special status of Gagauzia. The group is composed of representatives from the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova and the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia.