Today Moldova celebrates 30 years since the proclamation of independence. On this day, President Maia Sandu says that her commitment is to build, together with the citizens, a prosperous and free Moldova, a welcoming home for all citizens.

“This is our duty before the forerunners of the struggle for Independence and this is a pledge that we make to our children today. Our country has bright, hardworking and good people, and only with them it has a future. Long live, dear fellow citizens! Happy birthday, the Republic of Moldova!” the president declared in a video message on Facebook, IPN reports.

When Independence was proclaimed, says Maia Sandu, the lawmakers fulfilled the popular will, while hundreds of thousands of people came together in the center of Chisinau for a Great National Assembly. On 27 August,1991, the people announced to the world their intention to build their own country. The Declaration of Independence solemnly proclaims that “the Republic of Moldova is a sovereign, independent and democratic state. Free to decide the present and the future, without any interference from outside, in accordance with the holy ideals and aspirations of the people, in the historical and ethnic space of its national formation”.

Maia Sandu says that she saw during the years of independence “how heavy the burden of freedom can be”. “We paid the full price, without a discount for it, we paid with our mistakes, poverty and missed chances. Many fellow citizens went abroad in search of a better life. During this time, we learned that we need to keep our house tidy. People found out the value of their vote. It was neither simple, nor easy. But today we know that our destiny, our well-being and our future are in our hands”, said the Moldovan head of state.

On 27 August 1991, the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Moldova was adopted and signed by 278 members of Parliament.