Dignitaries and ordinary people laid lowers at the monument to Stephan the Great in Chisinau on July 2, when it is 506 years since the ruler's death, Info-Prim Neo reports. “Stephan the Great was a voivode, a great man. His deeds show a future can be built in any circumstances, when you love the people and the country and have dignity. We are proud of Mihai Eminescu, Mihai Viteazul, Stefan the Great, but we often give up in certain situations. I think Stephan the Great would urge us not to surrender,” said Acting President Mihai Ghimpu. Premier Vlad Filat said Stephan the Great, who ruled Moldova in 1457 – 1504, did not like to talk much, but to take action. “If he had lived nowadays, he would have been as optimistic about the political developments in Moldova and Moldova's future,” he said. Representatives of the Democratic Party said the Moldovan political class should learn the main history lesson – if the culture of the political class is not cardinally reformed, Moldova will not make progress and the attempts to modernize the country will be unsuccessful. The commemorative events were coordinated by the Government. The Ministry of Culture and the Writers' Union of Moldova staged a literary-musical recital dedicated to the ruler that involved writers, singers, actors and artistic groups. “Stephan the Great offered us an example of choice. He defended the borders of the country by giving the peasants land at the frontier. The Christians who realize what he did should come to the ruler's monument on July 2,” said poet Iulian Filip. The Communists Party laid flowers at the monument before the commemorative events organized by the Government. In a communique, the party says Vladimir Voronin went to the monument at 8am, accompanied by MPs and party members. No other details are provided.