Mihail Formuzal: For integration without assimilation!

The head (bascan) of Gagauzia, the autonomous territorial unit in the south of Moldova, Mihail Formuzal initiated on creation the new mass Social movement in Moldova which will defend the rights of ethnic minorities in Moldova. Let's remind that the basis population of Gagauzia is the Gagauzians — 82 %, also here live: the Moldavians — 8 %, Bulgarians — 5 %, Russians — 2,5 %, Ukrainians — more than 2 %.

We publish the performance text of Mihail Formuzal:

- So there were historical circumstances that twenty years ago the Republic of Moldova proclaimed the independence. Then, in August, 1991, the hopes of the best life and aspiration to construct of prospering democratic society overflowed the hearts of many citizens of our country.

However today, two decades later, which passed from the moment of the beginning of process of construction of own statehood, we are compelled to note that didn't reach even those quality standards of the life which had in the former Soviet Union.

Our progress in construction of the democratic state is very modest, social tension grows in society and the country appeared territorially divided into two parts.

Despite the variety of problems which the Republic of Moldova faces today, the same reason is at the heart of the majority of them, namely the persistent attempts of ruling elite to construct especially unitary, ethnodemocratic state in the conditions of multinational Moldavian society in fact.

More than 20 years, irrespective of who is in power in Kishinev, the management of the Republic of Moldova carries out the policy of replacement of the Russian language from public life and the Russian-speaking citizens appeared artificially debarred from the public administration.

This fundamental defect of process of statehood construction of the Republic of Moldova since its beginning essentially reduced the potential of development of the country and generated a set of political, economic, social and humanitarian problems.
While the Moldavian political elite won't change the principles of the development of statehood of the country, having refused the nationalism and attempts to assimilate various ethnic groups, such phenomena as corruption, crisis of the educational sphere, backward economy, split of society and population shift, which will brake still the development of the Republic of Moldova, depriving its population of prospect and chances of worthy life.

The Moldavian people appeared to be the involuntary hostage of vicious policy of the ruling elite today, being exclusively open, friendly, tolerant, having centuries-old tradition of peaceful co-existence with people of other nationalities.

The different people lived in peace and harmony throughout many centuries in the territory of the present Republic of Moldova. Living side by side, they constantly enriched themselves in respect of culture and traditions.

It wasn’t important for them in what language they talked. It was important what they told. I am absolutely sure that the majority of inhabitants of Moldova will agree with these my statements.

It is possible to discuss the reasons of the disturbing situation which has developed today in the Moldavian society for a long time, accusing the provokers-unionists undermining the foundations of the Moldavian statehood or banal short-sightedness and nonsense of the local officials of existing problems. But, unfortunately, the problems won't disappear.

In order to correct considerably the present situation and to give the chance of revival to the Republic of Moldova, it is necessary to develop the effective mechanisms of opposition to destructive actions of nationalists of all colors in the power.

There is nothing more to the Russian-speaking citizens and all, whom are worth of the international consent in Moldova as to create effective instruments of protection of the interests independently and effectively to use them.

In this regard I act with a civil initiative about the creation the new mass Social movement in Moldova which should become a form of voluntary self-organizing of citizens for protection of the constitutional laws.

The most important tasks, in my opinion, with which this Public organization should be engaged, are as follows:

- monitoring of legislative process in Moldova from the point of view of its conformity to the national and European legislation in the field of protection of national minorities rights and the language policy – the counteraction to political forces and the organizations focused in the activity on rousing of interethnic discord in the country, open or hidden blasting of the sovereignty and the state independence of the Republic of Moldova;

- to achieve the realization of the constitutional law of citizens of Moldova on a free choice of language of training and education of children;

- revision of the current Code of television and radio of the Republic of Moldova and other discrimination laws in the sphere of language, breaking the right of the national minorities and small people, private businessmen and consumers;

Proceeding from the Public organization purposes, its basic problem would be the realization of remedial activity. The political component will be present only at that degree in what the use of political means will be necessary for realization of the purposes of movement.

Proposing the present offer, I think it would be necessary to underline the number important moments, in my opinion:

First of all, we, the representatives of national minorities, are not the guests in the Republic of Moldova. We aren't in long business trip here. We are the full citizens of this country. We regularly pay the taxes, we bring up children in the spirit of patriotism for the sake of the future of this country. Therefore we won't allow to somebody to violate our civil rights and to humiliate our human advantage.

Secondly, the organization created by us will steadily and consistently realize a principle: “For integration without assimilation!” It means that we will promote the closer interaction and mutual enrichment of all ethnic groups of the population of Moldova, to resist to their assimilation, deprivation of their national identity.

Thirdly, supporting the Russian language, we remain the supporters of the development and strengthening of positions of the Moldavian language, we consider that the state should provide the appropriate conditions for its studying by all wishing citizens. The state support also is necessary to the Gagauz, to the Ukrainian and Bulgarian languages.

Fourthly, we are convinced that the rate on ethnocultural variety, preservation of the Russian language as the second state language of the Republic of Moldova, corresponds to the interests of the Moldavian population in not smaller degree, than the interests of its Russian-speaking citizens as the interethnic world and the society unity reached in its conditions are the pledge of stable development of the Moldavian independent and sovereign statehood.

Dear accomplices!

The need of the creation of Public organization offered by me in the Republic of Moldova ripened for a long time. State authorities of the country, at the best, behave expressly passive, ignoring the obvious violations of the law, without reacting in any way to actions of the various political radicals rousing the international conflicts. In the worst case, the power in the Republic of Moldova becomes the conductor of similar dangerous and unproductive policy.

The project offered by me means the carrying out of enormous on the volume practical work for identification and documenting of the facts of discrimination of the representatives of ethnic minorities in Moldova.

Therefore I invite all interested persons, public organizations and the movements to this work, ready to unite the efforts and possibilities.

I invite to cooperation all, who are indifferent to the future of our country, who wants to see the Republic of Moldova originally democratic, prospering multinational state. Nobody will protect our constitutional laws and legitimate interests, except ourselves. Therefore it is time to take the initiative!

Yours faithfully,

Mihail Formuzal