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Wöber – The Autonomy of Gagauzia
confirmed. 223 According to the hierarchy of laws, the autonomy would have to
bring its laws into line with the state ones, whereas the Gagauz refer to the
political compromise that was reached in the 1990s, which intended that
Moldova would bring its laws into conformity. 224
Despite continuing contradictory interpretations, all interviewed experts
agreed that the current law systems were not corresponding to each other.
Signed cooperation agreements between parliament and the People’s
Assembly have never been implemented. 225 In general, MPs of Gagauz origin
working in the parliament stressed their potential role as dialogue partners
for colleagues from Comrat – an offer that has not been accepted to date. 226
Other experts saw the problems in Chisinau. MPs in the Moldovan
parliament did not know much about the autonomy and its laws, so the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) had proposed –
without success – the establishment of a People’s Assembly liaison office to
facilitate drafting laws and assist with checking the drafts. 227 Ana Harlamenko
reiterated the long-standing Gagauz demand that quotas should enable
participation in parliament, and Gagauz also be represented in other levels of
the state. As the speaker of the People’s Assembly, she had no rights and
could not participate in parliamentary commissions. 228
MP Stoianoglu pointed out that the People’s Assembly had competences in
certain fields that were clearly laid down in the Autonomy Statute. Up until
2012, the deputies in the autonomy would – due to incompetence – simply
copy state laws and then add their own ideas, which in the end led to
juridical chaos and contradictions in the implementation of the laws.
Furthermore, this process was not monitored and by 2012 a number of laws
existed which went beyond the autonomy’s competences. 229
3.1.5.4. Revision Mechanisms of the Autonomy
In general, after the constitutional changes and with respect to the 1994
Law’s status as organic law, a revision of the Autonomy Statute demanded a
broad consensus in Chisinau and Comrat. Most experts referred to the
continuing contradictions in the document, but calls for adaptations were not
strong. One opinion was that changing the Autonomy Statute should not be
talked about – only strengthening it should be discussed. 230 MP Victor Popa
223 Victor Mocanu.
224 Igor Botan. This was also mentioned by Nikolai Telpiz as proof that the early promises had not been
fulfilled by the central authorities and that the autonomy was being undermined.
225 Irina Vlah claimed that the authorities in Comrat appeared to have no interest in this.
226 Alexandru Stoianoglu; Petru Vlah.
227 Gottfried Hanne.
228 Ana Harlamenko. Victor Mocanu also remembered the case put forward by the People’s Assembly
some years ago where they had asked for change of the status of its deputies to the same as MPs in
the parliament of Moldova, whereas this request was declined.
229 Alexandru Stoianoglu. According to Vlad Petru, for the past three years, not one law was adopted to
improve the living standards of Gagauzia. Among the law initiatives sent to Chisinau, either the
topics were unrealistic or focused on exclusions for inhabitants of Gagauzia, which were not
possible.
230 Irina Vlah.
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