Director of the Russian-Transdnestr Information-Analytical Center Alexei Martynov comments on the results of the official and alternative congresses of the world Gagauzes, which finished their work in Moldova on July 24:


The Gagauz peoples aspiration for self-determination is not something new. Having a formal autonomy status within Moldova, they can well continue developing the idea of self-determination, especially as the present-day Moldova does not respect the right of the Gagauzes to preserve their national-cultural originality and native language the right stipulated in the charter of their autonomy. No surprise that most of Gagauzes who object to the Chisinau policy on their people have held an alternative congress and have decided to hold a referendum on Gagauzias independence.

REGNUM: Nevertheless, the official congress has supported Moldavian President Vladimir Voronins policy on Gagauzes, and Voronin said during the congress that Gagauzia is gaining its harmonious place in the whole political organism of the Moldavian state

As I have already said there is nothing strange in the simultaneous conduct of two Gagauz congresses. The first was an official, parquet congress organized in Chisinau by the Voronin administration and the Information and Security Service of Moldova, the second an alternative congress, reflecting the position of most Gagauzes who disagree with Moldovas diktat against their autonomy.

In this light, Voronins statement during the official congress is similar to the one he made on July 21, on the eve of the CIS informal summit in Moscow, concerning Transdnestr. Voronin reiterated his favorite mantra that Transdnestr is a producer and supplier of arms for the world terrorism. He said this about Transdnestr, whose enterprises are constantly monitored by the EU. His statement on Gagauzia was nothing but ravings of a madman: empty words just like everything Voronin has been saying for quite a long time so far.

The fact of two Gagauz congresses has not only proved that besides the official, Chisinau-masterminded position of Gagauzia, there is a real, drastically different position of the Gagauz people, but has also shown that the Moldavian authorities poorly control the situation.

REGNUM: How real is the conduct of referendum on Gagauzias independence?

The Constitution of Moldova allows to initiate such referendums. The charter of the autonomous-territorial unit of Gagauzia says that this referendum can be initiated by the Legislative Assembly. However, this may prove problematic as laws in Moldova do not work, or, to be more precise, they work only when they serve the interests of the present Moldavian authorities. True, this year Gagauzia is electing Bashkan and next year Legislative Assembly, and, probably, the new Assembly will be able to initiate the referendum. Besides, if successful, the Sept 17 2006 referendum in Transdnestr will become a good stimulus for a similar referendum in Gagauzia.

I would like to note that independence referendum is not an infection spreading in chain reaction but an inalienable right of any nation thereby to preserve its self-identity and to be able to determine and decide its fate on its own. Moreover, unlike Transdnestr, Gagauzia has an officially recognized status of autonomy, which it can enlarge by legal constitutional means.

REGNUM: Can one realize the second issue proposed for the referendum can the Gagauz Eri Autonomy accede into the EU and the Russian Federation at one and the same time, according to the principle of double protectorate?

The present Moldavian authorities will, certainly, do everything they can to prevent this, but I think that the problem of self-determination in Gagauzia will depend on how this problem is solved in Transdnestr. I am sure that many Russian NGOs will support the Gagauz people in the matter. I would like to emphasize that I am speaking about the support of NGOs rather the official Russian authorities, who will, certainly, avoid interfering in the internal affairs of other states. By the way, Gagauzia gets very active moral and, even, financial support from Turkish NGOs.

So, in this light, Russia should give more attention to the developments in Gagauzia as, mentally, culturally and religiously, the Gagauz people is still more inclined towards Russia, and it would be an unpardonable mistake on Russias part to lose this influence.

REGNUM: Is the Kosova model applicable to Gagauzia?

The Kosova model is a universal solution to such problems. True, certain political circle in the West claim that this model is unprecedented and is applicable only to Kosova. However, we see that, with slight variations, it has been successfully applied in Montenegro, which means that the Kosova model is already working, irrespective of what certain western politicians may say.

Consequently, under certain circumstances and with due regard for local peculiarities, the Kosova scenario can be well applied in Gagauzia too. Despite the Moldavian Presidents optimistic declarations about the eternal love and friendship of the Moldavian and Gagauz peoples, everybody knows that more and more Gagauzes are showing an increasingly strong displeasure with their conditions in Moldova. I am sure that, with the support of the world democratic community, the Gagauz people will be able to resist the repressive machine of Moldova and to exercise its right to self-determination.