Terminal - meta key problem

Hello!

As a long time Linux/Unix user who switched to Mac recently I have a problem with an app I use often - Terminal. When working on a remote system I sometimes need to switch windows using control+[1-9] key combination on a Mac control key doesn't work that way. Things get a little better when in terminal preferences I turn on the option 'Use option key as meta key' once I do that I can switch windows with option+[1-9] key but then I can't type national characters in the terminal. Is there any way to make control key to function as meta key?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.