War veterans and representatives of the central administration staged a march in the center of Chisinau and observed a moment’s silence to celebrate the International Day of Peace and to commemorate persons killed in battle, IPN reports.

Minister of the Interior Alexandru Jizdan, addressing those who attended the ceremony in the Great National Assembly Square, said it is for the first time that the International Day of Peace is marked in Moldova under the aegis of the Ministry of the Interior. He noted that the high price paid for peace must motivate the people to keep it.

“Only this way will we have a European country where our people feel fine. It is an opportunity to contribute to the promotion of values that contribute to the welfare of the world we live in. I wish everyone peace in the soul,” stated Alexandru Jizdan.

The program dedicated to the International Day of Peace continued with a festivity staged by students of a number of schools. These sang songs and recited poems about peace.

The International Day of Peace has been celebrated annually on September 21, starting with 1982. Since then, an increasing number of nations and political and military organizations have joined in. To inaugurate the day, the United Nations Peace Bell is rung at UN Headquarters in New York. The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents except Africa, and was a gift from the United Nations Association of Japan, as "a reminder of the human cost of war". The inscription on its side reads “Long live absolute world peace”.