​UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON MINORITIES COMES TO MOLDOVA

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Rita Izsаk-Ndiayne, has come for a visit to Chisinau on the invitation of the Moldovan Government to assess the situation with national, religious and language minorities in this republic.

Besides Chisinau, the United Nations official will visit Moldovan regions and localities with compact minority populations such as Gagauzia, Balti, Edinet, Orhei, Soroca, Taraclia and the Transnistrian region.

A report on this voyage will be presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in March 2017.

On Monday, Rita Izsаk-Ndiayne was received by Moldova's Deputy Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Galbur, who briefed his visitor about the measures taken in Moldova to strengthen social and inter-ethnic unity.

The UN official expressed United Nations’ preparedness to render necessary assistance in achieving the goals of protecting persons belonging to national minorities.

Rita Izsаk-Ndiayne said Moldova is a multinational and multi-language country, which has made continuous efforts over last few years to recognize and promote minorities’ rights. Nevertheless, the state is coming across problems that require attention and targeted measures to resolve them.

She called the protection and promotion of minorities’ rights a key to achieving social and political stability in such diverse a society as Moldova.

“This visit is an excellent possibility to interact with the representatives of the Moldovan Government and of the civil society within the framework of a constructive dialog aimed at revealing current problems and advanced experience to ensure minorities’ rights”, said the United Nations expert.

On June 29, Rita Izsаk-Ndiayne will give a final news conference in Chisinau.

Infotag’s dossier: Rita Izsаk-Ndiayne became an independent United Nations expert on minority issues in June 2011, and in March 2014 her mandate was extended.