Moldovan politicians mark 19th anniversary of Sovereignty Act

Two political parties – the Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN) and the Christian Democratic People's Party (PPCD) – on Tuesday, June 23, laid wreaths of flowers at the monument to the medieval ruler Stephen the Great in Chisinau to commemorate the 19th anniversary of signing of Moldova's Sovereignty Declaration. The representatives of the two parties laid the flowers separately. The first at the monument was the AMN delegation, headed by its leader Serafim Urecheanu. He told the reporters attending that “this is the most remarkable day in the history of the Republic of Moldova”. “Sovereignty and independence are the two pillars of our statehood”, he added. At the same time, Urecheanu expressed his conviction that the Republic of Moldova is and will be an indivisible state and said he “will always fight for it”. Victor Catan, a former minister of interior affairs and also the president of the Association of Law Enforcement Officers, stated the adoption of sovereignty “was an act of great courage by the members of the first Parliament of the Republic of Moldova”. He also said he was one of the officers who fought for the sovereignty of the country in the war on the Nistru. Some 20 minutes later the PPCD politicians came to the site. In his speech, the party's leader Iurie Rosca stated: “19 years ago the foundation of the statehood of the Repubilc of Moldova was laid (...) It was a beautiful day, full of enthusiasm and emotions. Just like today”. He added that a new generation of youths has grown up, who at the moment of the Declaration's signing “were coming to the Square (the Great National Assembly Square – Chisinau's main plaza) accompanying their parents, but now are themselves people able to make a decision”. Genadie Vaculovschi, the number one candidate on the PPCD's ticket in the 29 polls, said the signing of the Sovereignty Declaration provided a set of legal and political landmarks which are still respected in Moldova, except for the authorities on the eastern bank of the Nistru. The Sovereignty Declaration was signed by the first Moldovan Parliament on 23 June 1990 in a series of events that preceded the Declaration of Independence in 1991.