A scientific conference themed “Language – Basic Attribute of the National Identity” was held in Chisinau to celebrate 95 years of the birth of the 'patriarch' of the Moldovan linguistics Nicolae Corlateanu on February 1. During the event, there was launched the academician's volume “Testament. I Believe in the Romanian Language's Victory” that was published by the Romanian Language House “Nichita Stanescu” earlier this year, Info-Prim Neo reports. The conference took place at the State University of Moldova as Nicolae Corlateanu was one of the founders of this university's Philology Faculty. “This book reflects Nicolae Corlateanu's view on the fate of the literary Romanian language in Bessarabia. The author provides conclusive evidence about the correct name of our language and arguments concerning the improvement of the climate in Moldova,” the Romanian Language House's director and editor-in-chief of the journal “The Romanian Language” Alexandru Bantos, editor and coordinator of the book, wrote in the preface to the volume. Professor Nicolae Matcas, former Minister of Science and Education, said the anthology contains everything that Nicolae Corlateanu collected during his life. “He explains what the literary language for Bessarabia is, why this language should be called Romanian and why this definition should be included in the Constitution of Moldova,” Nicolae Matcas said. Historian and literary critic from the Romanian town Husi Theodor Codreanu said Corlateanu's testament for him is like the testaments of Mihai Eminescu and Grigore Vieru as they all concern the destiny of the Romanian language. “Corlateanu, as Eminescu, considered that the language is our master. We have yet a lot of things to learn because, as Nicolae Corlateanu said, the language problem has not been yet solved from historical viewpoint,” Theodor Codreanu said. Attending the conference, First Deputy Prime Minister Ion Negrei said the commemoration of the forerunners is a sign that the national identity becomes stronger. He stressed that this identity crisis generates serious problems in the European integration process and in the political and cultural formation process. Minister of Education Leonid Bujor said the ruling coalition has a last chance to solve the language problem and promised that the politicians will not hesitate this time. The anthology forms part of an editorial program initiated by the Romanian Language House and the journal “The Romanian Language”, which aims to spread the most valuable works centering on such important issues as the Romanian identity and unity, the national history and conscience, the alphabet, language, etc.