Mircea Snegur: Moldova is my dear motherland with beautiful and hardworking people. Info-Prim Neo interview from the series “19 years of Independence”

[Info-Prim Neo:] Mister President, is contemporary Moldova similar to that imagined by you 19 years ago? [Mircea Snegur:] - As we aimed on August 27, 1991, Moldova, after detaching itself from the Soviet Empire at the initiative of the intellectuality and political class and enjoying the population's massive support, became an independent, democratic state of law recognized at world level and accepted into international organizations. I assure you these are not insignificant results. But we still lag behind in a number of areas, including the economy and the social sphere. For different reasons, the economic reforms slowed down in the second half of the 1990s. The reforms in agriculture deviated from the planned ones. Consequently, the jobless rate increased, the production conditions worsened and many persons were forced to go abroad to look for work, including representatives of the intellectual elite. In this respect, Moldova does not look like the country we depicted initially. I think we must remain optimistic and support the democratic Government in its efforts to remedy the situation and make progress. [Info-Prim Neo:] It is almost 20 years since the proclamation of Independence, but we do not yet have a monument to this event. Is is an accident or legitimacy? To what extend does this characterize us and our state? [Mircea Snegur:] In some of the district centers, like Floresti, there were erected monuments dedicated to Independence. There are Independence streets and markets in towns and municipalities. Thus, we cannot speak about an indifference to the events that happened 19 years ago. At the same time, I think a national monument to Independence in Chisinau is indeed necessary. This is a suggestion for the authorities and Chisinau administration that could be fulfilled by or in 2011, when it will be 20 years of the proclamation of Independence. [Info-Prim Neo:] It often seems that the people in Moldova continue to live in parallel worlds: they have their own language, values, interests and even motherland. What didn't we do and should do to make Moldova the motherland of all its citizens? [Mircea Snegur:] The democratic governments that ruled before and after the proclamation of Independence made concerted effort to create optimum conditions for all the people, including for studying the official language – Romanian. We always wanted interethnic harmony in Moldova and worked hard achieve this objective. But the other-language speakers' nostalgia for the Soviet past erects impediments. They will be surely overcome over time. A new generation with progressive views grows up. They will succeed in achieving what we did not manage to. Besides, the people experience difficulties in this period of crisis and the patriotic interests become secondary. That's why it seems that the persons live in their own world. I'm sure that such a situation will be overcome. It is important not to deviate from the principles we laid down in the legislation, in Moldova's Constitution. [Info-Prim Neo:] What are the indicators of the irreversibility of Moldova's Independence and what are the internal and external dangers threatening its existence? [Mircea Snegur:] I don't think it is necessary to enumerate certain indicators of the irreversibility of Moldova's Independence. During 19 years, the builders of the state – the people – convinced themselves that it is much better to live and take decisions in a free country. This is the main indicator. The situation at foreign level now favors the strengthening of our independence. There is no way back. As to the dangers, there are two main threats. The first is the presence of the Russian troops in Moldova's Transnistrian region, despite the efforts made by the international organizations and promises made by the Russian governors during 19 years, and the impossibility of reintegrating the country. Thank God, no shots have been fired on the Nistru for 18 years. The second threat, I would better say my personal worry, is the dissociation of the national democratic political forces. This situation confuses the supporters of these forces and cannot ensure efficient governance and, as a result, the economy's revitalization and the Moldovans' return home. But these 'threats' cannot endanger Moldova's Independence as they can be dealt with. More political will is needed in this respect. [Info-Prim Neo:] Please, continue the phrase: “After 19 years of Independence, Moldova is for me...” [Mircea Snegur:] After 19 years of Independence, Moldova is for me my dear motherland with beautiful and hardworking people appreciated all over the world, with well-educated young people who speak nice Romanian and are interested in bringing the technical and scientific progress to Moldova. This makes me think that Moldova has a future. [Info-Prim Neo:] Thank you for the interview . [Mircea Snegur:] I thank you too for the rather interesting and consistent questions that are not like the hackneyed phrases used by some of the national journalists, whom I care about very much. [Constantin Uzdris, Info-Prim Neo]