Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB) delegation paid a working visit to Moldova between 4 and 7 May 2017. ‘IV. World Gagauz Congress’, which was also attended by the Prime Minister of Republic of Turkey Binali Yıldırım, was participated by TDBB delegation who were Mayor of Beykoz Yücel Çelikbilek, Mayor of Selçuklu Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Altındağ Veysel Tiryaki and Secretary General of TDBB Fahri Solak, upon the invitation of President of Moldova Gagauz Autonomous Region Irina Vlah.
Participation to IV. World Gagauz Congress and Official Visits in Comrat
On the first day of the program, which was May 5, 2017 Friday, the delegation attended IV. World Gagauz Congress, welcomed warmly and was informed about the condition of Gagauz people coming from all parts of the world including Turkey, in the opening session of Congress. After the opening session of Congress, TDBB delegation made an official visit to President of Gagauz Autonomous Region Irina Vlah. During the meeting, the cultural center that was coordinated by TDBB and its member municipalities, asphalt factory and information house projects were discussed. President Vlah thanked TDBB delegation for the visit they paid and the organizations they carried on; she also added that she was glad to hear from the participant municipalities that the Information and Experience Sharing Program themed as ‘Alternative Energy Sources and Asphalt Operations in Local Governments’ organized for Gagauz Region Mayors between 11 and 17 December 2016 in Istanbul and Konya organized by TDBB was a beneficial program.
Within the framework of Gagauz Autonomous Region Visit, TDBB delegation also met with Mayor of Comrat Serghei Anastasov. Meeting with the delegation at Comrat Municipality building, Anastasov thanked for the program TDBB organized for Gagauz Mayors between 11 and 17 December 2016, in which he was the head of the delegation. Mayor Anastasov talked about the projects he carried on in his term and stated that the biggest problem of Comrat Municipality is infrastructure, that just %30 percent of the city has sewage system and the lack of an asphalt factory in Gagauzia is among the fundamental problems of the region. After the meeting, land survey was made for Cultural Center project of Altındağ in cooperation with TDBB.
The final official visit of the first day of the program was paid to Çadır Lunga city, which is 30km far away from Comrat. Mayor Anatoli Topal hosted TDBB delegation in his Office and underlined the fact that because Çadır Lunga has reached to the population of 20.000, it has gained the status of being a city according to Moldova laws. Mayor Topal said, “The main problem of our municipality is unemployment, I hope that with its city status we will draw the attention of international investments.” On the other hand Secretary General of TDBB Fahri Solak stated that the Union will give coordination support on the ongoing and new projects between Çadır Lunga and its sister city İzmit.
Prime Ministers of Moldova and Turkey visited Comrat
Paying an official visit to Moldova, Republic of Turkey Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım visited Comrat city accompanied by Prime Minister of Moldova Pavel Filip, after his meetings in Kishinev. In the official meeting which was also attended by TDBB delegation, Prime Minister Yıldırım and his delegation, President of Gagauz Autonomous Region Irina Vlah, Prime Minister of Moldova Pavel Filip and his delegation came together. In the meeting, in addition to the topics like cultural center and asphalt factory projects carried out by TDBB, the city hospital that will be built in Comrat by TIKA and projects like organized industrial sites were discussed. After the meeting the Prime Ministers of both countries went to the Cultural Center where IV. World Congress took place and addressed to the delegates. TDBB delegation also attended to the banquet that was organized in the honor of Prime Minister Yıldırım.
Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM) Visit
On the third day of the program, which was May 7, 2017 Sunday, TDBB delegation visited Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM). The meeting was attended by President of CALM Tatiana Badan, Secretary General of CALM Viorel Furdui, Mayor of Straşeni Doamna Valentina Casian, Mayor of Costeşti Ialoveni Natalia Petrea, Mayor of Ghidighici Isac Serafim, Mayor of Circova Valentin Gutan and Mayor of Calaraşı Nicolae Melnic. President of CALM and also Member of TDBB Administrative Board as the representative of Moldova, Badan stated that they have been supported by Turkey during the reforms in local governments in Moldova. She also said, “I think that it is important for eight municipalities’ gaining the status of being city after the latest local government reforms. I hope these dual meetings and projects we carry out will be beneficial for both sides.” On the other hand, Secretary General of TDBB Solak gave a short briefing on the Union and introduced the participants in the delegation; he thanked to CALM for sparing time for them on Sunday. He also added “TDBB has 25 members from Moldova. This shows how powerful the relations between two countries and also two institutions. We can organize an information and experience program for Moldova Mayors within this year.”
After the present-giving ceremony, the busy and beneficial TDBB Moldova Working Visit Program ended with Kishinev tour.
8.05.2017
