GAGAUZIA GOVERNOR ACCUSES CENTRAL MOLDOVAN AUTHORITIES OF SHORTSIGHTED FOREIGN POLICY

Mikhail Formuzal, the Bashkan [Governor] of the southern Moldovan autonomous region of Gagauzia, has accused the Republic of Moldova’s central authorities of waging a shortsighted foreign policy and of ignoring the autonomy’s opinion.

On Monday, an official meeting was held in the autonomy’s capital of Comrat on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of adopting, by the Moldovan Parliament, of the Law on the special legal status of Gagauzia and the foundation of Gagauzia autonomy.

Addressing the forum, Mikhail Formuzal expressed regret that the Moldovan legislation is amended and updated without whatever account of the provisions of the said Law, that Gagauzia would not be represented in national-level institutions of power, and that the Bashkan’s law-guaranteed place in the Government of Moldova has been downgraded just to nothing because the autonomy governor has been deprived of the possibility to influence on anything.

“The shortsighted foreign policy has led to introducing a wine embargo by Russia. As a result, Gagauzia [with its developed wine industry] suffered most of all. The Government, however, did not take any anti-crisis measures or programs for winemakers, and did not provide compensations or subsidies to underpin the wine sector. Moreover, Gagauzia’s appeals to revise the country’s external policy in favor of improving relations with Russia were perceived in Chisinau with an extreme hostility”, said Formuzal.

In his words, Gagauzia tried to show a restrained attitude to Moldova’s Euro-integration policy. However, the reforms being waged in the country under Euro-integration banners often go contrary to Gagauzia’s interests, and Chisinau’s European rhetoric has developed into a screen behind which oligarchic forces are dividing political power in the country.

“The only European integration, taking place in Moldova really, is the ongoing creeping surrendering of the Moldovan statehood and the processes aimed at Moldova’s unification with Romania. Presently, Gagauzia and its residents have found themselves in an absurd situation: for our standing up in favor of the country’s independence, we have fallen victims to accusations being made by President Timofti himself – for our position that runs contrary to his pro-Romania outlooks”, stated Mikhail Formuzal indignantly.

He called upon the Gagauzia authorities and political forces to forget internal differences and unite forces for ensuring a successful holding next February 2 of a regional referendum on Moldova’s foreign political vector and on using Gagauzia’s law-stipulated right to self-determination in case the Republic of Moldova loses its independence.