Moldovan government to consult public opinion on draft strategy on national minorities' integration

Chisinau, 21 April /MOLDPRES/- Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici today met OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors, the government's communication and media relations department has reported.

The two officials tackled the potential for integrating the national minorities into society and policies promoted by the Moldovan authorities.

The sides touched upon the situation in the Latin script schools from the Transnistrian region and pointed out the opportunity to elaborate a regulation on functioning the institution.

Another issue was focused on the relations between the central authority and the one of Gagauzia at different levels - economic, social and cultural.

Gaburici appreciated the OSCE's attention paid to Gagauzia. "Our priority interest is to maintain stability in this region and to include Gagauzia in modernisation, economic development and European integration", the premier noted.

The officials approached the importance of the strategy on integration of national minorities, a goal stipulated in the government programme. "More minorities live in Moldova, it is important to consult with them and find out their position on all issues and initiatives", he noted.

The document will focus on the following important directions: participation in public life, policies in linguistic field, intercultural dialogue, coverage in the media and consolidation of civic membership of national minorities to the state of Moldova.

For his part, Thors reconfirmed OSCE willingness to provide assistance in practical implementation of the strategy: "I welcome the government's commitment to quickly switch to the elaboration and adoption of a strategy on integrating national minorities, and I was glad to see that a draft strategy is already available to the public for consultations. I am sure that adoption and implementation of this strategy and action plan will contribute to social cohesion and stability in Moldova".

On 15 April, the draft strategy was posted on the website of the Inter-ethnic Relations Bureau. During the next two months, the draft will be debated with civil society.

After approval of the strategy, the authorities will work out a national action plan on its implementation. The strategy will be carried out in two stages (2015-2017, 2018-2020).

(Editor M. Jantovan)