The National Association of European Trainers of Moldova (ANTEM) on September 1 will begin a new program of linguistic training for the national minorities of Moldova, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The program was extended because the surveys carried out in Moldova pointed to the people’s necessity of studying the official language,” [Lucia Cucu, the director of ANTEM], said Wednesday at a news conference themed “ANTEM – Good Linguistic Training Practices”. The conference was attended by ANTEM experts, representatives of embassies working in Chisinau and persons that benefited from language courses from ANTEM. “There are enough materials in Moldova to teach the other-language speakers. The national minorities also want to study the official language. Only cooperation with the central authorities is needed to support those that want to integrate into the Moldovan society,” Lucia Cucu said. According to her, the Gagauzians expressed the greatest interest in learning Romanian. “These courses are welcome, but the lack of communication space in Gagauzia is a problem. The 60 hours fixed in the school program are sufficient for a basic course, but the knowledge must be enriched,” said [Valeri Ianioglo, first deputy governor of Gagauzia]. He advised the ANTEM experts to work out an interactive, audio language course. “I spend a lot of time driving and could study Romanian meanwhile,” Ianioglo said. [The director of IDIS “Viitorul” and political analyst Igor Munteanu] said at the conference that the solving of the official language problem in Moldova depends on the political will. “During the last two decades, the authorities did not take steps to improve the situation. Not much was done to integrate the national minorities as there were create false problems. “The re-Rusification of the Moldovan people started after the Department for Linguistic Standards was closed. Unfortunately, after 2001 this re-Rusification, which also means re-Sovietization, was stepped up,” the analyst said. The conference participants voiced hope that the given issue will be addressed by the new Parliament of Moldova. [Lucia Cucu] also said that the largest part of the other-language speakers want to know Romanian so as to find employment. “20% of the institutions’ budget is allocated to translators. If the institutions allot at least 3% of their resources to train the employees it will be much better,” Lucia Cucu said. [The mayor of Basarabeasca town Vasili Filipov] was one of the beneficiaries of the ANTEM program. “I am Bulgarian. I lived for a long time in Ukraine and did not have the possibility of learning Romanian. The Romanian language speakers make up 30% in Basarabeasca district. The central authorities’ attitude on this issue leaves much to be desired,” the mayor said, adding that he is ready to provide a hall for teaching language courses. “I now discovered the famous language of Eminescu, Creanga and Vieru. The Romanian language helps us come closer to our country,” said [Jana Grecu, who attended the ANTEM course]. The program was initiated in 2005. Over 500 functionaries benefited from such courses during 2005-2008. Another 600 persons will attend them between 2009 and 2010. Those that want to study Romanian can file applications. The program is implemented with financial support from the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities based in The Hague. The National Association of European Trainers of Moldova is a nongovernmental, apolitical, nonprofit organization with 50 local trainers. Over 1,000 persons have graduated from its courses so far.