The ideal to build a democratic state, based on the rule of law, with a market economy, has been accomplished. The statement was made by Moldova's first President Mircea Snegur at a talk-show on Radio Moldova, IPN reports.

“I'm still emotional when I recall the great national assemblies that brought us freedom and independence. You could feel the desire for freedom in the air. Then Moldova obtained its independence and we, with no experience, had to build a state from scratch. It's true that it was followed by a transition that still goes on in some fields, but it isn't that easy to build a country from zero”, said Snegur.

The first President sees Moldova's European integration as a continuation of the national renaissance movement. “The European direction was sketched during the declaration of independence. Moldova is on the right path, as proved by the abolition of the visa regime and the ratification of the EU Association Agreement”, said Snegur.

He added that Moldova's accession to the EU will be the final stage of the tasks set out 23 years ago. “I'm confident the quality of life will improve obviously and those abroad will return. It's true that we have mixed feelings now, but the positive ones are prevailing. I'm also sure that people could gather in a great national assembly when EU membership will be on the line”, said the former president.

A former activist of the Communist Party, Mircea Snegur supported the declaration of Moldova's independence and worked for the recognition of the new country by the West. As head of the Supreme Soviet of Moldova, in the critical moment of August 1989, he agreed to support the bill that declared Romanian as the official language and reinstated the tricolor as the country's flag, which gained him huge popularity among Moldovans.

On 3 September 1990, Mircea Snegur was appointed president of SSR Moldova by the Supreme Soviet of the former Soviet republic. He retained presidency until 1 December 1996, when he was replaced by Petru Lucinschi.