{El Sheikh Mohamed came to Moldova from Sudan in 2001. Currently, he works as a translator at the Lawyers' Law Center, which is an organization-partner of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He has graduated from the Psychology and Social Assistance Faculty of the Free International University and studies for a Master's Degree in Social Assistance Counseling and Management. He is married to a Moldovan woman, has a child and lives in Hulboaca village that is located not far from Chisinau. He is to receive soon the nationality of Moldova.} [ – You have lived in Moldova for ten years and can assess the sociopolitical situation in the country. What are the major problems faced by our society in your opinion?] – I think society in Moldova is used by some of the political parties. It is the principle of citizenship that counts, not where we come from. Every citizen of Moldova has the right to know one's identity and origin and have them recognized. If I get the Moldovan nationality in the near future, as I hope, I will say I'm a citizen of Moldova of Sudanese origin. I think we all should belong to the country whose nationality we hold and respect its laws. The world becomes small, like a village. We travel, speak and interact with other societies, while the ethnic problems are not so resonant anymore. We are citizens of Moldova whose official language is Romanian. It is very nice that we speak Romanian. [– People leave Moldova and look for a better life. Why shouldn't we, those who are here, also leave?] – It is the right of those who leave to make such a choice. They want a better life and it is something normal. Some of them do not come back as they do not have guarantees that it will be better here. I believe a large part of them will return when there will be economic, social and political stability in Moldova. Until 2008, the people could not return home owing to the monopoles. They did not have grantees that they will be able to work and develop a business. Democracy and freedom in Moldova become stronger day by day. Democratization cannot be stopped. Nobody can stop the people from making progress. The people should get involved and know what's happening in their society. I know that I live in a society that is confronted by a lot of problems, and I care. The Moldovans should be optimistic as things started to improve and the street pulse changed. The pulse and the faces were different on the street and in public transport one or two years ago. Now the people speak differently and the situation is different. It is better. [– More than 60% of the people voted in favor of continuing the European integration efforts on November 28. What about the other 40%. Where are we going to – towards West or East?] – It would be abnormal to believe that the European Unions means a heap of money and we will have salaries of €2,000 the next day after we are accepted into the EU. However, a part of the aspirations are achievable. We must understand that the EU proposes first of all a model of lifestyle and of functional state institutions. It proposes a state of law and social peace. Besides, the EU finances all the related plans and a lot of programs in all the areas. What models are proposed by the other side? Semi-dictatorial regimes where the heads of state are replaced frequently and the people can do nothing, extraordinary corruption and democracy at declarative level only. I'm for the formation of a center-right alliance as a possible center-left alliance would mean returning to the past. I want to leave in a free country. I want Moldova to follow the path to European integration as I want to leave in a healthy society, where the human rights are respected. [– What should we be proud of and what should we be ashamed of?] – Moldova should be proud of being home to people of different ethnicity and nationality. The girls here are very beautiful. The people are rather intelligent. Many of us do not care about what's happening in Moldova and this is what we should be ashamed of. It is not right to think that those who were in power stole and those who will come to power will also steal. [– What do you wish the Moldovan people for the coming year?] – I wish all the Moldovan people, regardless of nationality and ethnicity, a happy and prosperous year. I wish Moldova to have a profound system of democracy and a state of law that will make everyone proud of the fact that we live in this country. Everything will be fine and we will advance. It is hard to stop the train that moved off.