The Competition of Offers in Gagauzia
The Competition of Offers in Gagauzia
The Moldovan central authorities’ relationship with the Gagauz local authorities has been rather tense throughout the last year. This situation has taken many forms: from Gagauz politicians’ requests to provide more funds for the region or adapt national legislation to the law on the special status of ATU Gagauzia, to ensure good functioning of autonomy to overt challenges such as the organization of referendums in the Gagauz region on 2 February 2014 on the foreign policy vector of the state and the right to external self-determination of the Gagauz autonomy if the Republic of Moldova loses its independence. The strained relations between Chisinau and Comrat were especially evident during the negotiation, initialing and signing of the Association Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union. Anti-European messages and actions by the Gagauz leaders evidence the presence of a foreign factor in the conflict between central and Gagauz autonomy authorities.
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