Gagauzians from 14 countries participated on 20 July in the first world congress of Gagauzians, held in Comrat (the administrative centre of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia).
Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin has participated in the opening of the event.

The world congress of Gagauzians was organized following an initiative by the executive committee of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia. It aims to establish closer spiritual and cultural relations between Gagauzians from all over the world. The Moldovan president and the central authorities backed the initiative.

The congress' solemn opening was preceded by a divine service carried out by Metropolitan Bishop of Chisinau and all Moldova Vladimir, and by the opening of the Alley of Glory in the capital city of the Unit of Gagauzia.

President Vladimir Voronin welcomed Gagauzians throughout the world, and said that nowadays, the autonomous territorial unit within Moldova, where this nation's representatives live, develops more and more its national culture, arts and education. "Gagauzia has got a harmonious place in the single political body of the Moldovan state, and now, it represents Moldova's sincere and temperamental heart," Voronin said.

Voronin referred to the history of Gagauzians settling down on the territory of the present Republic of Moldova, to the stages and peculiarities of setting up the Gagauzian autonomy, and to the policies the authorities have been promoting to preserve, develop and turn to account the cultures of nationalities living together.

Gagauzia's governor Gheorghe Tabunscic highly appreciated the event and said that it is not by accident that the first world congress of Gagauzians is held in Comrat, as Moldova is the only country to have given administrative authority to an ethnic minority.
In December 1994, the Moldovan parliament adopted the law on the status of the Gagauzian Autonomy within the integral Moldovan state.