Representatives of the central and capital’s local public administration attended the Festival of Ethnicities, held on Sunday, September 17. The event started with flowers laid at the monument of Stephen the Great, then local and Governmental officials, and MPs visited the stands of the ethnic organizations attending the Festival. Vice-prime-minister Valerian Cristea stated that it became a tradition for citizens of different nationalities settled in Moldova to assemble each third Sunday of September in the Public Garden and celebrate the Festival of Ethnicities. “A centuries-old tradition labeled Moldova as a big house which hosts numerous nationalities, living and working together. Moldova is a model of how peace and stability can be preserved, and this festival symbolizes the friendship of the peoples living together”, Cristea stated. The Festival hosted exhibitions of books, arts, craft art, and contests. The Festival of Ethnicities is a state holiday since 2002. About 50 nationalities participated at this year’s event. According to the 2004 census, the Republic of Moldova is inhabited by 282 000 Ukrainians, or 8.4% of the republic’s population, 200 000 Russians, about 6%, Gagauzians – 4.4%, etc.