Paul
Goble
Staunton, September 20 – The Gagauz
Autonomy was established in Moldova to protect and promote the Gagauz language,
but according to Todur Zanet, editor of “Ana Sozu,” those who proclaim
themselves leaders of Gagauzia not only do everything in Russian but have
failed to support the national language.
“Our language,” he said during a
broadcast on a Komrat television channel, “isn’t needed by the Gagauz
leadership or by the Moldovan.” Instead, “the leaders of Gagauzia do everything
they can in order that the Gagauz language will disappear,” thus eliminating
entirely the basis for autonomy as such (turkist.org/2014/09/gagauz-dili.html).
“Look around,” he continued, “everything is in
Russian: all the websites, all the scandals, all the meetings. Where are the
three official languages” that are supposed to exist in Gagauzia? “In the education law, there are no plans for
the opening of Gagauz schools and kindergartens.” Given that, Zanet continues,
it will soon be time to “liquidate the autonomy.”
The Komrat editor’s words are important for
two reasons. On the one hand, they strongly suggest that the Gagauz leadership
is as many in Moldova assume simply a Trojan horse for Moscow to be used
against Chisinau along with Transdniestria rather than a national movement
meriting respect.
And on the other, they show that there are at
least some within the 200,000-strong Turkic speaking minority in southeastern
Moldova some who are really interested in defending their nation, an attitude
that means they may be less willing to follow their Russian-speaking leadership
and more interested in a genuine cultural deal with Chisinau.
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