site.btaOSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Visits Taraclia University

Christophe Kamp, the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, has visited the Gregory Tsamblak Taraclia State University.

During the visit, the Rector, Assoc. Prof. Maria Paslar, presented the University's activities, emphasizing its key role in preserving the language, culture and traditions of the Bulgarian community in Moldova. Special attention was paid to research on Bulgarian studies, as well as to the training of teachers with proficiency in native, official and foreign languages.

Paslar noted that the region has a stable and favourable multilingual environment that promotes integration while preserving cultural identity, the university administration said.

The meeting was attended by the leadership of Taraclia District and the teaching staff of the university. Issues related to the support of ethnic minorities, the preservation of national identity and their integration in Moldovan society were on the agenda. Part of the discussions were held in English.

Data of the National Bureau of Statistics of Moldova for 2014 show there are about 54,000 ethnic Bulgarians in the country, 1.9% of the population of 2,804,801. The largest number of ethnic Bulgarians live in Taraclia District. The Bulgarian community is also represented in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, as well as in the districts of Cahul, Cantemir and Leova.