Chisinau Communists mark Lenin's birthday

Communist leaders and ordinary citizens, mainly elderly, marked Vladimir Lenin's birthday on April 22 in Chisinau. Lenin was the leader of the Socialist Revolution from Russia in 1917, Info-Prim Neo reports. The participants gathered to Lenin's monument from the exhibition center Moldexpo, where they were met with Soviet songs. The meeting was attended by president Vladimir Voronin, the leader of the Moldovan Communists, Communist parliamentarians and officials. Vladimir Voronin gave a speech criticizing the Moldovan opposition parties, saying they were like criminal gangs. He condemned the devastation of the headquarters of the parliament and the presidency. Voronin assured the third victory of the Communists in Moldova will continue their work for the development of the country. He says the key strategic points for the country's development are the European integration, the democratization of society and building a social state. Deputy premier Victor Stepaniuc has told journalists the Socialist system has proven its political, social and economic viability. The system also had certain drawbacks, but it happened later, in the second half of the 20th century, he said. He says Lenin was a key figure of the left-wing doctrine and his life and works deserve being studied. Traditionally, Vladimir Voronin handed party-membership cards to several youths, and the participants laid flowered to Lenin's monument.