On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the declaration of Moldova’s Independence, IPN News Agency decided to depict the portrait of the current Republic of Moldova. For the purpose, it provoked a number of people, including state officials, politicians, businessmen, civil rights activists and persons without posts and titles, but who have what to say. The generic picture is entitled “Thoughts about and for Moldova”.
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Valentin Gutan, mayor with eight terms in office: In the 1990s, when we were all thirsty for Independence, we wanted the change. Maybe today we do not have what we dreamt of, but there is a positive moment that nobody can take from us - we live in an independent state that is our state, the Republic of Moldova.
The mayor, who holds the eighth term as mayor of Cricova town of Chisinau municipality, said that leaving aside the economic problems, we can be proud that we live in our state, as other peoples of the world do. According to him, when Independence was obtained, except for particular moments that weren’t so positive, there were also achieved a number of things. The freedom is the first of them – the freedom of speech, the freedom of expression.
According to the mayor, starting with 1992-1993, the right to choose no longer was a formal right enshrined in the supreme law of the state and became a real right. Elections followed – parliamentary, local, etc. and the people got the right to choose and decide the country’s fate. Among other accomplishments is the fact that together with the Independence, the Republic of Moldova entered the international arena and became a state alongside other states and obtained the status of UN member and member of other organizations. The whole world heard about Moldova and this is gladdening.
Among the failures, Valentin Gutan mentioned the Transnistrian conflict because today the Republic of Moldova is not an integral state, as we wanted it to be and as it was. Another failure is the fact that the economic policy does not meet the people’s expectations.
The mayor said that he comes from the old system as he was educated in the Soviet period and he felt free as a man when Independence was declared. He also received inner satisfaction as he was chosen for eight consecutive terms in office as mayor. For him, the confidence that he enjoys among the people means a lot.
Going abroad without being subject to that ‘security sieve’ of the earlier times is another possibility that the people of this country obtained. As regards the local public administration, the mayor said this is no longer as an appendix of the central bodies that should report on particular problems. This now has the right to deal with the problems faced in the administered area. It is about financial independence, even if this is not full. The local public authorities can take decisions as regards the priorities, in comparison with the period before the Independence, when there were only instructions.
The mayor of Cricova noted that the new generations, the children, must be proud that they are citizens of the Republic of Moldova. They must be proud of the history of our state and our ancestors. An alley of rulers was built up in the town. It includes the busts of the most famous rulers. This is something useful for the new generations. Despite the existing problems, the children must be proud of the fact that they are citizens of the Republic of Moldova. The young generations must be educated in patriotic spirit and in the spirit of love for this land.
The mayor considers that the Moldovans must be more determined and must study better history so as to see how our ancestors acted. These didn’t yield to the enemies, but made effort to do great things with small forces. According to him, we still need courage, determination and civic position. “I wish the Republic of Moldova to prosper. We hope for a better future not only for us, but also for the next generations. I wish we reach a moment when not only our citizens who left will return, but also more foreigners will come to us. Moldova should be more often visited by foreigners so that the fame of this land is taken far beyond its borders because it deserves this,” stated Valentin Gutan.
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Valentin Gutan was elected mayor of Cricova town at the age of 27. A teacher by profession, he took up duties as mayor in 1987 and since then has headed the Cricova mayor’s office, serving his eighth term in office now.
Elena Nistor, IPN
The articles of the series “Thoughts about and for Moldova” started to be published on July 18. Among the protagonists are: Dumitru Alaiba, Iurie Ciocan, Ana-Maria Tulea, Ion Manole,Olga Gagauz, Stella Ciobanu, Iurie Leanca, Victor Parlicov, Doru Curoşu, Igor Meriacre, Valeria Seican, Ciprian Raetski, Andrei Nastase Ghenadie Gilca, Arcadie Barbarosie,Valeriu Matei, Eugen Doga, Dumitru Postovan, Petru Macovei, Tatiana Negrus, Maia Sandu, Viorel Soltan, Nicolae Botgros, Igor Dodon, Iulia Iabanji, Mariana Onceanu Hadarca, Aureliu Batranac, Viorel Cibotaru, Eugen Bendilic, Petru Bodarev, Sergiu Prodan, Gheorghe Erizanu etc. When contacted, Nicolae Timofti, Andrian Candu, Pavel Filip, Marian Lupu, Vladimir Voronin, Mihai Ghimpu, Renato Usatyi, Valeriu Turea and others also agreed to give interviews.
