Gagauzia 389634 224877255 2008-07-10T20:23:36Z Thijs!bot 1392310 robot Modifying: [[pt:Gagáuzia]] {{Infobox Country |native_name = ''Gagauz-Yeri''<br/>''Găgăuzia''<br/>Гагаузия |conventional_long_name = Autonomous Territorial Unit of Găgăuzia (Gagauz Yeri) |common_name = Gagauzia |image_flag = Flag of Gagauzia.svg |image_coat = Coat of arms of Gagauzia.svg |image_map = Gagauzia map.png |map_caption = Location of Gagauzia (purple) |national_motto = |national_anthem = ''Gagauziya Milli Marşı'' |official_languages = [[Gagauz language|Gagauz]], [[Moldovan language|Moldovan]] ([[Romanian language|Romanian]]), [[Russian language|Russian]] |capital = [[Comrat]] |latd=46 |latm=19 |latNS=N |longd=28 |longm=40 |longEW=E |largest_city = capital |government_type = |leader_title1 = [[Governor]] |leader_name1 = [[Mihail Formuzal]] |leader_title2 = Chairman of the<br/>People's Assembly |leader_name2 = <br/>[[Stepan Esir]] |sovereignty_type = [[Autonomous area|Autonomous region]] of [[Moldova]] |established_event1 = Created |established_date1 = [[April 23]] [[1994]] |area_rank = |area_magnitude = |area_km2 = 1,832 |area_sq_mi = 707 |percent_water = |population_estimate = 155,700 |population_estimate_rank = |population_estimate_year = 1996¹ |population_census = |population_census_year = |population_density_km2 = 85 |population_density_sq_mi = |population_density_rank = |GDP_PPP = |GDP_PPP_rank = |GDP_PPP_year = |GDP_PPP_per_capita = |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = |GDP_nominal = |GDP_nominal_rank = |GDP_nominal_year = |GDP_nominal_per_capita = |GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = |HDI = |HDI_rank = |HDI_year = |HDI_category = |currency = [[Moldovan leu]] |currency_code = MDL |time_zone = |utc_offset = |time_zone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |cctld = |calling_code = |footnote1 = {{ro icon}} [http://www.statistica.md/statistics/dat/787/ro/Nr_populatiei_1ian_2006.pdf Population of the Republic of Moldova (January 1, 1996)] }} '''Gagauzia''' ([[Gagauz language|Gagauz]]: ''Gagauziya'' or ''Gagauz-Yeri''; {{lang-ro|Găgăuzia}}; {{lang-ru|Гагаузия}}), formally known as the '''Autonomous Territorial Unit of Găgăuzia (Gagauz Yeri)''' (Moldovan/Romanian: ''Unitatea Teritorială Autonomă Găgăuzia''), is an [[Autonomous area|autonomous region]] of [[Moldova]]. Its name derives from the word "[[Gagauz people|Gagauz]]", which in turn derived from the name ''Gok-oguz'' used to describe descendants of the [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] [[Oghuz Turks|Oghuz]] [[tribe]]. [[Crimean Tatars]] and [[Uyghur people|Uyghurs]] used ''gok'' to mean "sky" or "sky blue", so ''Gok-oguz'' literally meant "sky-blue Oghuz". == History == The Gagauz people descend from the [[Seljuq dynasty|Seljuk]] [[Turkish people|Turks]] that settled in [[Dobruja]], together with the [[Pechenegs]], Uz ([[Oghuz Turks|Oghuz]]) and [[Cumans|Cuman]] ([[Kipchaks|Kipchak]]) people that followed the Anatolian [[Seljuq dynasty|Seljuk]] [[Sultan]] [[Kaykaus II|Izzeddin Keykavus II]] ([[1236]]–[[1276|76]]). More specifically, one clan of Oghuz Turks migrated to the Balkans during the inter-tribal conflicts with other Turks. This Oghuz Turk clan converted from [[Islam]] to [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christianity]] after settling in the Eastern Balkans (in [[Bulgaria]]) and were called Gagauz Turks. === Russian Empire === In [[1812]], [[Bessarabia]], previously the eastern half of the [[Moldavia|Principality of Moldavia]], became part of the [[Russian Empire]], and [[Nogais|Nogai]] tribes that inhabited several villages in south Bessarabia (or [[Budjak]]) were forced to leave. Between 1812 and 1846, Russians settled the [[Gagauz people]] from what is nowadays eastern Bulgaria (which remained under [[Ottoman Empire]]) to the orthodox [[Bessarabia]], mainly in the settlements vacated by the [[Nogais|Nogai]] tribes. They settled there in parallel with [[Bessarabian Bulgarians]] in [[Avdarma]], [[Comrat]], [[Congaz]], [[Tomai]], [[Cişmichioi]], and other former Nogai villages. Some Gagauz were also settled in the part of the [[Moldavia|Principality of Moldavia]] that did not come under Russian control in 1812, but within several years village by village moved to the compact area they inhabit today in the south of Bessarabia. With the exception of a five-day ''de facto'' independence in the winter of 1906, when a peasant uprising declared an autonomous ''Republic of Comrat'', Gagauzians have been ruled by the [[Russian Empire]] (1812-1917), [[Romania]] (1918-1940 and 1941-1944), the [[Soviet Union]] (1940-1941 and 1944-1991), and [[Moldova]] (1917-1918 and 1991 to date). === USSR === Gagauzian nationalism remained an intellectual movement during the 1980s, but strengthened by the end of the decade, as the Soviet Union began to embrace democratic ideals. In [[1988]], activists from the local intelligentsia aligned with other ethnic minorities to create a movement known as the "Gagauz People". A year later, the "Gagauz People" held its first assembly in which a resolution was passed to demand the creation an autonomous territory in southern [[Moldova]], with the city of [[Comrat]] as its capital. The Gagauzian national movement intensified when Romanian was accepted as the official language of the Republic of Moldova in August [[1989]], replacing Russian, the official language of the [[USSR]]. A part of the multiethnic population of southern Moldova regarded this decision with concern, precipitating a lack of confidence in the central government in [[Chişinău]]. The Gagauzians were also worried about the implications for them if Moldova reunited with Romania, as seemed likely at the time. In August [[1990]], Comrat declared itself an autonomous republic, but the Moldovan government annulled the declaration as unconstitutional. At that time, [[Stepan Topal]] emerged as the leader of the Gagauz national movement. === Independent Moldova === [[Image:Gagauzja.png|thumb|Map of Gagauzia.]] Support for the Soviet Union remained high, with a [[referendum]] in March 1991 returning an almost unanimous vote in favour of remaining part of the USSR. The referendum, however, was boycotted by Moldovans in Gagauzia, as well as in the rest of Moldova<!--?-->.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} Many Gagauzians supported the [[Soviet coup attempt of 1991|Moscow coup attempt]] in August 1991, and Gagauzia declared itself independent on [[19 August]] [[1991]], followed in September by [[Transnistria]], thus further straining relations with Chişinău. However, when the Moldovan parliament voted on whether Moldova should become independent on [[27 August]] [[1991]], six of the twelve Gagauz deputies in Moldovan parliament voted in favour, while the other six did not participate. As a consequence, the Moldovan government toned down its pro-Romanian stance and paid more attention to [[minority rights]]. In February 1994, President [[Mircea Snegur]] promised the Gagauzians autonomy, but he was against outright independence. He was also opposed to the suggestion that Moldova become a federal state made up of three republics, Moldova, Gagauzia, and Transnistria. In 1994, the Parliament of Moldova awarded to "the people of Gagauzia" (through the adoption of the new Constitution of Moldova) the right of "external self-determination", should the status of the country change. In other words, if the case was that Moldova decided to join another country (by all accounts, that would be Romania), then the Gagauzians would be entitled to decide, by means of a self-determination referendum, whether to remain part of the new state or not. On [[December 23]] [[1994]], the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova accepted the "Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia" (Gagauz: ''Gagauz Yeri''), resolving the dispute peacefully. This date is now a Gagauzian holiday. Gagauzia is now a "national-territorial autonomous unit" with three official languages, [[Moldovan language|Moldovan]], [[Gagauz language|Gagauz]], and [[Russian language|Russian]]. Three cities and twenty-three communes were included in the Autonomous Gagauz Territory: all localities with over 50% of Gagauzians, and those localities with between 40% and 50% of Gagauzians, which expressed their desire to be included as a result of referendums to determine Gagauzia's borders. In 1995, [[Georgi Tabunshik]] was elected to serve as the Governor (Moldovan: ''Guvernator'', Gagauz: ''Bashkan'') of Gagauzia for a four-year term, as were the deputies of the local parliament, "The People's Assembly", with [[Peter Pashali]] as chairman. Dumitru Croitor won the 1999 Governor elections and began to make use of the rights granted to the Governor by the 1994 agreement. The central authorities of Moldova proved unwilling to accept the results initiating a lengthy stand-off between the autonomy and Chişinău. Finally Croitor resigned in 2002 due to the pressure from the Moldovan government which accused him of abuse of authority, relations with the separatist authorities of [[Transnistria]] and other charges. The central electoral commission of Gagauzia did not register Croitor as a candidate for the post of the Governor in the subsequent elections and Gheorgi Tabunshik was elected in what was described as unfair elections.<ref>[http://www.alegeri.md/en/previous-elections/ Information on previous elections of Governor of Gagauz ATU] {{en icon}} {{ru icon}} {{ro icon}})</ref><ref>[http://www.peacebuilding.md/library/153/en/Moldova%20Strategic%20Conflict%20Assessment%202006.pdf Moldova Strategic Conflict Assessment (SCA)], Stuart Hensel, Economist Intelligence Unit.</ref> == Geography == Gagauzia consists of a main central part around the cities [[Comrat]] and [[Ceadîr-Lunga]] (Gagauz: ''Çadır-Lunga''); one larger [[Enclave and exclave|enclave]] around the city of [[Vulcăneşti]]; and two smaller enclaves, the villages of [[Copceac]] and [[Carbalia]]. == Administrative divisions == Gagauzia consists of one municipality, two cities, and twenty-three communes containing a total of thirty-two localities.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.cis-legal-reform.org/document.asp?id=2019 Organic Law No. 292-XIV (see Annex 4)], Republic of Moldova, 19 February 1999.</ref> {| style="background:transparent;" |- valign="top" | <!----------First column:----------> {| class="wikitable" cellpadding="0" !width="120px"| Official name !! Gagauz name{{smallsup|a}} !! {{smaller|% [[Gagauzians]]}}</tr> |colspan="2"| [[Comrat]] {{smaller|(municipality)}} || align ="right"|72.8%</tr> | [[Ceadâr-Lunga]] {{smaller|(city)}} || ''Çadır-Lunga'' || align ="right"|73.7%</tr> |- |colspan="2"| [[Vulcăneşti]] {{smaller|(city)}} :{{smaller|Vulcăneşti, loc. st. c. f.}} |align ="right"|69.4% :{{smaller|22.5%}} |- |colspan="2"| [[Avdarma]] || align ="right"|94.2%</tr> | [[Baurci]] || ''Baurçi'' || align ="right"|97.9%</tr> |colspan="2"| [[Beşalma]] || align ="right"|96.7%</tr> | [[Beşghioz]] || ''Beşgöz'' || align ="right"|93.0%</tr> | [[Bugeac, Găgăuzia|Bugeac]] || ''Bucak'' || align ="right"|61.8%</tr> | [[Carbalia]] || ''Karabalia'' || align ="right"|70.2% </tr> |} | <!----------Second column:----------> {| class="wikitable" cellpadding="0" !width="120px"| Official name !! Gagauz name{{smallsup|a}} !! {{smaller|% [[Gagauzians]]}}</tr> | [[Cazaclia]] || ''Kazayak'' || align ="right"|96.5% </tr> | [[Chioselia Rusă]] || ''Köselia Rusă'' || align ="right"|25.2%</tr> | [[Chiriet-Lunga]] || ''Kiriet-Lunga'' || align ="right"|92.6%</tr> | [[Chirsova]] || ''Kirsova'' || align ="right"|45.6%</tr> | [[Cioc-Maidan]] || ''Çokmeydan'' || align ="right"|93.1%</tr> | [[Cişmichioi]] || ''Çeşmeköy'' || align ="right"|94.4%</tr> | [[Congaz]] || ''Kongaz'' || align ="right"|96.1%</tr> |- |colspan="2"| [[Congazcicul de Sus]] : {{smaller|Congazcicul de Jos<br/>Duduleşti}} |align ="right"|73.4% :{{smaller|87.2%<br/>4.4%}} |- | [[Copceac]] || ''Kıpçak'' || align ="right"|95.0%</tr> |} | <!----------Third column:----------> {| class="wikitable" cellpadding="0" !width="120px"| Official name !! Gagauz name{{smallsup|a}} !! {{smaller|% [[Gagauzians]]}}</tr> |colspan="2"| [[Cotovscoe]] || align ="right"|95.4%</tr> |colspan="2"| [[Dezghingea]] || align ="right"|94.5%</tr> |colspan="2"| [[Etulia]] : {{smaller|Etulia Nouă<br/>Etulia, loc. st. c. f.}} |align ="right"|92.7% :{{smaller|83.1%<br/>94.5%}} |- |colspan="2"| [[Ferapontievca]] || align ="right"|28.0%</tr> | [[Gaidar, Găgăuzia|Gaidar]] || ''Gaydar'' || align ="right"|96.5%</tr> | [[Joltai]] || ''Joltay'' || align ="right"|96.0%</tr> |- |colspan="2"| [[Svetlâi]] (Deneviţa) : {{smaller|Alexeevca}} |align ="right"|35.4% :{{smaller|33.5%}} |- | [[Tomai]] || ''Tomay'' || align ="right"|95.1%</tr> |} |- | {{smaller|<sup>a</sup> if different from official name.}} |} == Politics == The autonomy of Gagauzia is guaranteed by the Moldovan constitution and regulated by the 1994 Gagauz Autonomy Act. If Moldova decided to unite with [[Romania]], Gagauzia would have the right of self-determination.<ref>East - West Working Group. Levente Benkö. [http://www.east-west-wg.org/cst/cst-mold/levente.html Autonomy in Gagauzia: A Precedent for Central and Eastern Europe?]</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.venice.coe.int/docs/2002/CDL-AD(2002)020-e.asp | title=Opinion on the Law on Modification and Addition in the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova in Particular Concerning the Status of Gagauzia | accessdate=2007-11-24 | year=2002 | publisher=[[Council of Europe]]}}</ref> The Gagauzian People's Assembly (''Adunarea Populară''; Gagauz: ''Halk Topluşu'') has a mandate for lawmaking powers within its own jurisdiction. This includes laws on education, culture, local development, budgetary and taxation issues, social security, and questions of territorial administration. The People's Assembly also has two special powers: it may participate in the formulation of Moldova's internal and foreign policy; and, should central regulations interfere with the jurisdiction of Gagauz-Yeri, it has the right of appeal to Moldova's [[List of constitutional courts|Constitutional Court]]. The highest official of Gagauzia, who heads the executive power structure, is the Governor of Gagauzia (Moldovan: ''Guvernatorul Găgăuziei''; Gagauz: ''Bashkan''). He or she is elected by popular [[suffrage]] for a four-year term. He has power over all public administrative bodies of Gagauzia, and is also a member of the Government of the Republic of Moldova. Eligibility for governorship requires fluency in the Gagauz language, Moldovan citizenship, and a minimum age of 35 years. Permanent executive power in Gagauz-Yeri is exercised by the Executive Committee (''Comitetul Executiv''or ''Bakannik Komiteti''). Its members are appointed by the Governor, or by a [[simple majority]] vote in the Assembly at its first session. The Committee ensures the application of the laws of the Republic of Moldova and those of the Assembly of Gagauz-Yeri. As part of its autonomy, Gagauzia has its own [[police]] force.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.e-democracy.md/files/elections/gagauzia2006/special-legal-status-gagauzia-ro.pdf Moldovan law on the special legal status of Gagauzia]</ref> == Economy == The base of the Gagauzian economy is [[agriculture]], particularly [[viticulture]]. The main export products are [[wine]], [[sunflower oil]], non-alcoholic beverages, [[wool]], [[leather]] and [[textile]]s. There are twelve wineries, processing over 400,000 tonnes annually. There are also two oil factories, two carpet factories, one meat factory, and one non-alcoholic beverages factory. == Transport == There are 451 kilometers of roads in Gagauzia, of which 82% are paved. [[Turkey]] loaned Moldova 35 million dollars to improve Gagauzia's road network.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} == Demographics == According to the 2004 census,{{Fact|date=April 2007}} Gagauzia had a population of 155,700, of which 58,300 lived in cities and 97,500 in rural communities. ===Ethnic composition=== : ''See [http://www.statistica.md/recensamint/Nationalitatea_de_baza.xls Ethnic composition of the Republic of Moldova, 2006] {{ro icon}} * 82.0% [[Gagauz]] * {{spaces|2}}7.8% [[Moldovans]] * {{spaces|2}}4.8% [[Bessarabian Bulgarians|Bulgarians (Bessarabian)]] * {{spaces|2}}2.4% [[Russians]] * {{spaces|2}}2.3% [[Ukrainians]] == Culture and education == Gagauzia has fifty-five schools, the Comrat Pedagogical College (high school+two years over high school), and [[Comrat State University]] (''Universitatea de Stat din Comrat'' <ref>Comrat, str. Galaţan, 17, tel: (0-298) 2-43-45</ref>). Turkey financed the creation of a Turkish cultural centre (''Türk İşbirliği Ve Kalkınma İdaresi Başkanlığı'') and a Turkish library (''Atatürk Kütüphanesi''). In the village of Beşalma, there is a Gagauz historical and ethnographical museum established by Dmitrii Kara Coban. == See also == * [[Conflict in Transnistria and Gagauzia]] * [[Turks of Romania]] ==References== <div class="references-small"><references/></div> == Further reading == * {{cite journal | quotes = | last = Chinn | first = Jeff | authorlink = | coauthors = Steven D. Roper | date = | year = 1998 | month = March | title = Territorial autonomy in Gagauzia | journal = [[Nationalities Papers]] | volume = 26 | issue = 1 | pages = 87–101 | issn = | pmid = | doi = | id = | url = | language = | format = | accessdate = | laysummary = | laysource = | laydate = | quote = }} ==External links== * [http://www.travel-images.com/gagauzia.html Images of Gagauzia] * [http://www.tabibito.de/balkan/ecomrat.shtml Tabibito's Moldova Guide: Comrat, capital of Gagauzia] * [http://www.tika.gov.tr/muzik/cd1/cd1-7.mp3 Mari Kiz, Gagauzian folk music] * [http://www.alegeri.md/en/gagauzia2008/ 2008 Elections for the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia] * [http://www.alegeri.md/en/gagauzia2006/ 2006 Elections of Bashkan of the Gagauzia] * [http://www.ecmimoldova.org/fileadmin/ecmimoldova.org/docs/Gagauz.Official/Special_Legal_Status.pdf The law on the special legal status of Gagauzia] * [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/04/e3dc919f-38ea-4f73-bbc7-4468bae6aa7a.html Moldova: The Example Of Gagauz-Yeri As An 'Unfrozen Conflict' Region] * [http://www.dialoghaber.com/article.turkdevlet.gagauz.gagauzgagauzca. News in Gagauz] {{Template group |title = Geographic locale |list = {{Găgăuzia, Moldova}} {{Administrative divisions of Moldova}} }} {{Template group |title = International membership |list = {{Non-sovereign territories of Europe}} {{Turkic-speaking}} {{Turkic topics}} }} <!--Categories--> [[Category:Gagauzia| ]] [[Category:Subdivisions of Moldova]] [[Category:Russian-speaking countries and territories]] [[Category:Short-lived states]] <!--Other languages--> [[szl:Gagauzyjo]] [[be:Гагаузія]] [[bg:Гагаузия]] [[ca:Gagaúsia]] [[cv:Гагаузи]] [[cs:Gagauzsko]] [[de:Gagausien]] [[et:Gagauusia]] [[el:Γκαγκαουζία]] [[es:Gagauzia]] [[fr:Gagaouzie]] [[ko:가가우지아]] [[hsb:Gagauska]] [[id:Gagauzia]] [[it:Gagauzia]] [[he:גגאוזיה]] [[kk:Гәгәузия]] [[lt:Gagaūzija]] [[nl:Gagaoezië]] [[ja:ガガウズ共和国]] [[nn:Gagauzia]] [[oc:Gagauzia]] [[pl:Gagauzja]] [[pt:Gagáuzia]] [[ro:Găgăuzia]] [[ru:Гагаузия]] [[sq:U.T.A. Gagauzia]] [[sk:Gagauzsko]] [[sr:Гагаузија]] [[sh:Gagauzija]] [[fi:Gagauzia]] [[sv:Gagauzien]] [[tr:Gagavuzya]] [[zh:加告兹]]