Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti decorated a number of politicians and officials for “their contribution to promoting reforms based on European values and standards, for their merits in the negotiation, signing and ratification of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement, for their contribution to the liberalization of the EU and Schengen visa regime and for their efforts to increase Moldova's international prestige”, IPN reports.
Outgoing Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, acting Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Natalia Gherman, members of the 19th Parliament Ana Gutu, Liliana Palihovici and Valeriu Strelet, as well as Ion Paduraru, secretary general of the President's Apparatus, have been awarded the Order of the Republic.
Members of the previous Parliament Oleg Bodrug and Vadim Cojocaru and acting Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov received the Order of Honour.
The Order “Glory of Labor” was awarded to Raisa Apolschii, Maria Ciobanu, Valeriu Ghiletchi, Iurie Tap, Petru Vlad and Anatolie Arhire, all members of the former Parliament. The decoration was also offered to the acting Minister of Finance Anatol Arapu, former secretary general of the Cabinet Victor Bodiu, acting Deputy Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac, acting Deputy PM for Reintegration Eugen Carpov, acting Deputy Minister of Finance, acting Minister of Justice Oleg Efrim, acting Minister of IT and Communications Pavel Filip, acting Minister of the Interior Dorin Recean, outgoing Deputy PM Tatiana Potang and presidential counselor Vladimir Turcanu. Several deputy ministers and divisions heads received the Civic Merit medal.
President Timofti said that given the domestic and regional political context, the numerous challenges dealt with in 2014 and the previous years, the merits of the people who worked continuously for the country's European integration ought to be recognized.
The decree was signed on July 24 and the decorations handed on Wednesday, December 24.
