Situation of minorities’ rights is alarming

In the Republic of Moldova, the situation concerning the observance of the rights of national minorities is alarming, Socialist MP Vladimir Turcan, who heads the parliamentary commission on human rights and interethnic relations, said in a roundtable meeting centering on the integration of national minorities and protection of their rights on August 29. According to the MP, the language spoken on Moldova’s territory is now the major problem of the national minorities, IPN reports.

Vladimir Turcan said that besides the problem of the spoken language, the national minorities also face difficulties as regards education, free access to justice, integration into the socioeconomic and political life. “Regrettably, after the law on the functioning of languages on the territory of the Republic of Moldova was adopted, the government didn’t take measures to encourage the national minorities to study the official language,” he stated.

Liberal-Democratic MP Vadim Pistrinciuc said the Moldovan authorities should learn from the European states’ experience in integrating the national minorities into all the sectors of the Moldovan economy. “Our ethnic communities have a rich experience and a good practice of coexistence. However, the subject of interethnic relations continues to be widely speculated. At the level of political elites, this subject is discussed a lot. Heated discussions are held, but these later become less intense. It seems that we know what we have to do, but every time something prevents us. Maybe it’s time to learn from others,” he stated.

For his part, executive director of the Institute for Strategic Initiatives Vladislav Kulminscki said the lack of an open and honest dialogue on problems that divide the national minorities is acute in Moldovan society. “Moldova is well known for the fact that all the ethnic communities here consider this country a common home. All the ethnic groups here have a very high level of cultural integration and confidence in each other. It is well known that the division is mainly related to the policy that is consciously pursued by the political parties in narrow interests,” concluded Vladislav Kulminscki.

According to the 2014 census, 75.1% of the population consider themselves Moldovans, 7% – Romanians, 6.6% – Ukrainians, 4.6% – Gagauz, 4.1% – Russian, 1.9% – Bulgarians, while 0.3% – Roma.

The event entitled “Integration and protection of the rights of national minorities in Germany – local policies and role of the EU” was organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in partnership with the Institute for Strategic Initiatives of Moldova.

 

Источник: ipn.md