The referendum on Moldova’s foreign course that is set to take place in Gagauzia on February 2 may also focus on matters concerning the independence and territorial integrity of the country. This is said in a communiqué issued by the press service of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia on November 18, IPN reports.

According to the communiqué, the voters in the autonomous unit will be asked to pronounce not only on the foreign development course, but also on the new regulations of Gagauzia and the issue concerning the region’s status. The last matter refers to the ‘postponed’ implementation of Article 7 of the Regulations of Gagauzia under which, if the status of Moldova as an independent state is modified, the people of Gagauzia have the right to foreign self-determination.

In one of the next meetings, the deputies of the People’s Assembly will examine the exact list of referendum items and their formulation.

A number of Gagauz politicians earlier pleaded for putting the issue concerning the ‘postponed’ status of Gagauzia to the vote in a referendum. The local mass media formulated the given plebiscite as ‘referendum on the non-entry of Gagauzia into Romania’. In other words, if Moldova unites with Romania, Gagauzia will automatically withdraw from this procedure.