Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, congratulated Romania on the occasion of its National Day, wishing Romania and the Romanians many happy returns. “Maybe not all leaders knew or wanted to learn from the friendship that Romania offered to us unconditionally in time, regardless of the political conjuncture in Chisinau or Bucharest, but for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, Romania has always served as an example to be followed in terms of involvement of society in democracy and in the protection of the values of a state with the rule of law,” Nicu Popescu posted on his Facebook page, being quoted by IPN.
He noted the common path to the EU covered by the Republic of Moldova and Romania. “December 1 is not only a day in which we celebrate the common history, culture and language. It is also a moment when we all look with hope into the future, to the results we will achieve from now on together on our common European path that we want to make irreversible. I thank all those who day by day, year by year, through personal initiatives or large-scale projects, lend a hand to the forging of this tie between us that is more than special,” wrote Nicu Popescu.
In a news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration yesterday, the head of the Moldovan diplomatic service expressed his adherence to the Romanian values. When asked by IPN’s reporter how Moldova can help the Moldovan communities in southern Bessarabia, currently Odessa region of Ukraine, Nicu Popescu said the language (spoken by 124,400 persons who said they are Moldovans in the last census taken in Ukraine, e.n.) is Romanian. “We say this openly in our interaction with our parents from Ukraine. The situation of the Romanian speakers in Ukraine is discussed. I also discussed the situation of the Romanian speaking minorities in Ukraine with our partners form Romania. This subject is addressed and I hope we will find solutions to the formulated problems (switchover by classes or even schools in settlements inhabited primarily by Moldovans to teaching in the Ukrainian language, e.n.),” stated Nicu Popescu.
The Republic of Moldova does not have a specialized institution that would deal with the communities outside its borders. In Romania, such an institution is the Department for Romanians Everywhere.
