The Parliament last week decided to declare 2008 the Year of Writer Ion Druta owing to the special importance of the writer-academician’s works and to his input to developing the national culture. On September 3 2008, Ion Druta will turn 80. The Opposition MPs expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that the bill was presented by the Deputy Minister of Justice Nicolae Esanu and not by the Minister of Culture and Tourism Atur Cozma. Ultimately, the bill was passed. Within a month, the Government will work out and approve the national program of cultural-artistic activities dedicated to the Year of Ion Druta. The print and electronic media are encouraged to broadly cover the events related to Ion Druta’s Year.