Moldova’s elite should have the courage to say that these 16 years of independence have been a fiasco, - interview by Info-Prim Neo with writer Andrei Vartic, prime deputy chairman of the Romanian Democratic Forum of Moldova

[ - How do you appreciate today the ability of the Moldovan citizens to mobilize on the eve of getting independence and what should we learn from the events related to the Moscow August Coup produced on August 19-21, 1991?] When the August Coup was announced, when columns of tanks sent specially to intimidate the people wanted to enter Chisinau, a few parliamentarians from that time and I came out and persuaded the officers heading them to remain in the military bases outside the capital city in order to avoid a massacre. By the end of August 1991 the population’s capacity of mobilization was huge. At least 50-60 thousand people came out in the first night of Putsch. The next day, the Chisinau streets were crowded with people. Tens of thousand of people surrounded in a few lines the Radio and Television stations on Schinoasa Hill. We understood that this was the only way to communicate with the people. We surrounded the Parliament and Government buildings. We guarded the city’s entrances. Both the youth and the elderly, we came out to defend our ideals. This people can act in unison, if there is a well-established vector. [ - Is the 16th Anniversary of independence somehow distinct from other anniversaries?] This anniversary’s most distinctive sign is the huge poverty in the country, as well as the fact that there are no reforms, no changes in the mentality both at the electorate and top-political level. I voted Moldova’s independence and I take responsibility for this vote. Unfortunately, the people’s expectations have not been fulfilled. As a publisher, as a former politician, I dare saying that Moldova is heading a totally wrong way. Even if this year local elections showed a wish for change, unfortunately, the electors’ mentality is still a post-soviet one, oriented towards welfare. It’s enough to come out 5 km from Chisinau to see the sanitary, educational disorder: drunken children, trafficked children. A million of people have left the country. Moldova’s intellectual, political and religious elites should have the courage to say that these 16 years of independence have been a fiasco. [ - How do you think, what are Moldova’s biggest achievements and failures during these 16 years of its independence?] The few achievements are related to our intellectual development, to the fact that we became aware of being Romanians. I am referring to the majority of the population – 80 percent of the citizens who either state that they speak Moldovan or admit that they speak Romanian. We acknowledged the fact that we share the same cultural environment with other 21-22 million Romanians. There are more failures. We changed the history of the Romanian people that is being taught in schools, with a history that does not belong to us. The prices increased tragically, nobody taking into account the consumption basket. Unfortunately, the people do not care. Nobody is complaining and it seems that they enjoy living in poverty. We are witnessing the lowering of the social position of the entire society. We are just an agricultural state – we cannot use the term of “country” – with a rural population. The best engineers, professors, agronomists, doctors have left the country. So did the youth. Very few good specialists are left to gather the necessary mass to start our state’s engine. I have recently mentioned in an article that the political division, and I do not mean only the Communist Party, are glad that the one million of Moldovan citizens have left, because this way you do not need to give them a job, to give them salaries, to invest in schools, crèches, hospitals etc. Even the rural administration paradoxically is happy that the people are leaving. They have thus more plots and less people to feed. [ - Why do you think Moldova managed to be ranked as the poorest state in Europe, with a recent survey by the U.S. magazine “Foreign Policy” showing Moldova on its Independence Anniversary’s eve as the least stable country in Europe? When and how it will be able to get rid of these tags?] The Communist Party came to power to further impoverish us. Vladimir Voronin who assumed the power through this party and authoritatively ruled this state is to be blamed for this poverty. And the opposition is the same. Nobody is hindering it to write well-documented complaints and submit them to the international bodies. Foreign experts are coming to tell us that we are the poorest and the least stable country in Europe, although it is the opposition who should do that. Things will change only when 1.5 – 2 million people with the right to vote will come out in the street and say loudly that we are Romanians and we want to join Europe. [ - Do you think that the European integration as a strategic goal of independent Moldova is irreversible?] The integration is irreversible only if assuming the responsibility of being Romanian. Romania is our only chance to join the EU, to reach the European living standard. Since 1991 to present all the governing parties could submit the accession agreement, but they have not done it. During the 16 years of independence the politicians have closed their ears not to hear the far too shy citizens crying. Things are not going to change as long as we accept the communist disorder. The 200 families or, if citing Kogalniceanu, 200 noblemen, who took the responsibility to rule the state, do not make up for a nation. If we expect Voronin or others who play politicians to get us into the European Union, we will never see it. We were clearly told that Moldova would not join the European family in the next 50-60 years. The rhythm of the economic growth is so slow that we need 150 years to reach the EU standards. [ -Do you reckon things could change?] We will manage with love and pure heart, and if the Romanian and European enthusiasm of our people is not completely destroyed. We need to keep the germ of ethics, belief and holiness of our forefathers and parents, which survived the madness of the 40th-44th, the fame, the kolkhoz. We have a tricolor, an anthem, a Declaration of Independence – a basis for building a modern society with a decent life. The Declaration of Independence condemns communism, clearly states that we are Romanians and speak the Romanian language. We have a strong political document, which allows us to accomplish our ideals.