Info-Prim Neo story from the Series “Moldova-20! Whereto?”] [Each of the 20 years of Moldova’s Independence has its specific and a role in what has happened and what is yet to happen to this country and its people. Analysts, experts and politicians evaluate for Info-Prim Neo the main events of a certain year and their impact on the country] [Year 1995 as seen by historian and politician Victor Stepaniuc] [February 8] – The Parliament adopts the Concept of Moldova’s foreign policy. [July 13] – Moldova is accepted in the Assembly of the Council of Europe. [July 14] – The Law on the state anthem of Moldova is adopted. [April 16] – Local elections are held. [October 2] – The interim trade agreement between EU and Moldova is signed. [Historian and politician Victor Stepaniuc] thinks that in 1995 several events that consolidated the foundations of Moldovan legislation took place. “In 1995, the Concept of Moldova’s foreign policy, the Law on education and the Audiovisual Code were adopted. These laws benefited the development of Moldova and democracy. It was in 1995, on July 13, that Moldova was accepted in the Assembly of the Council of Europe, a truly special event. Moldova was the first CIS country to join the Council of Europe. That step was very important and anticipated accession to the International Labor Organization”, declared Stepaniuc. The politician stressed that 1995 was the year when PCRM participated in local elections for the first time and obtained 19% of the votes for local councils. “One of the downsides was the aggravation of the economic crisis. The process of privatization was underway and this led to the de-industrialization of the country, hundreds of thousands of jobs were axed and the results were obvious in the industry. 1995 saw the testing of the Land program, when the massive privatization in agriculture started and sovkhozes and kolkhozes were dissolved. There were some drawbacks as agricultural means of production were destroyed and the privatization wasn’t efficient and fair. It was illegal and took place under the eyes of the people. Unfortunately, neither the President, nor the Parliament or the Government could adopt a legislation in this domain”, Stepaniuc said. Victor Stepaniuc noted that 1995 was affected by a political crisis. The President proposed the amendment of article 13 of the Constitution, regarding the official language, but the Parliament rejected it. This step wasn’t made to solve any problems, but to gain a political advantage in the 1996 elections. “It was evident that then President Mircea Snegur and Speaker Petru Lucinschi intended to participate in the elections. That’s why political interests overshadowed the national ones. After the Parliament opposed the amendment of article 13, Mircea Snegur left the Democratic Agrarian Party, which had the parliamentary majority, and created the Party of Renaissance and Conciliation. A group of MPs led by Andronic joined his faction. The politicians didn’t care about the strengthening of society, creating new jobs, raising salaries, but only about party interests”, said Stepaniuc. According to Victor Stepaniuc, during those years a dangerous precedent was created for Moldovan society and politicians who would follow, as they continue the political fight until today and forget about the country’s interests. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union Communist Party, Victor Stepaniuc alongside Vladimir Voronin and others revived the Party of Communists. In 1996, he becomes a parliamentarian of this party. He obtained successive MP mandates after elections in 1998, 2001 and 2005. He was the leader of the parliamentary faction of the Party of Communists between 2001 and 2005. On January 16, 2008, President Vladimir Voronin appointed Victor Stepaniuc Deputy Prime Minister in the Tarlev Cabinet. He maintained his position in the Government headed by Zinaida Greceanai. In 2009, he was elected MP on the PCRM list, but left the party at the end of the year. For a short period he was vice president of the United Moldova Party, but left it as well. As historian, MP and Deputy Prime Minister he championed the idea of replacing the school course of History of Romanians with another one that would reflect the national history of Moldova. Stepaniuc is also a retired lieutenant-colonel.