“The Republic of Moldova did not follow the example of the Baltic Countries and had wandered for about 20 years on marshy roads going between communism and democracy. The youth revolution of April 7, 2009 brought Moldova back into the family of democratic countries,” Acting President Mihai Ghimpu said in the Parliament of Lithuania on March 11, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the presidential press service. Ghimpu's statements were addressed to the former members of the Seimas who signed the Act of Independence of Lithuania on March 11, 1990. Mihai Ghimpu stressed that Moldova was the first country to recognize Lithuania's independence on May 31, 1990. “We are glad that at this new start on the path to European integration, Moldova has a special friend, Lithuania, which does not hesitate to help us,” Mihai Ghimpu said at the end of his speech. Caretaker President Mihai Ghimpu and MP Ion Hadarca, first deputy Speaker of the first Parliament of Moldova, are taking part in the events held in Vilnius to celebrate 20 years of the declaration of Lithuania's independence between March 11 and 12.