The President of Moldova Maia Sandu was handed over the Timisoara for European Values Award. “I consider it not so much personal recognition, but especially appreciation for the way in which the citizens of the Republic of Moldova defend their right to live in freedom, peace and democracy, a right for which our neighbors and friends in Ukraine for almost two years have been making particular sacrifices that we can hardly describe in words,” the official stated in the award ceremony held at Cinema Timiș, IPN reports.
“An award for European values is an opportunity to discuss the dangers to them and how easily we can lose them. A war on our border seemed incredible a few years ago, but international law has been violated, borders have not mattered, and European values, human values have been trampled underfoot. Populism and lies become more attractive to some of the disappointed citizens and endanger important values: debate, trust in institutions and in each other,” the head of state said.
President Sandu said that only a united society can build a safe and prosperous country and referred in this connection to the elections that will take place in the immediate period in a number of corners of the world. “There will be elections in Chisinau, Bucharest, Washington. The European Parliament will be elected. The fate of the world for decades to come depends on these elections and I think these are not big words. And it is time to ask ourselves, both politicians and citizens, what world we want to live in. The theory ”politics does not affect us” is wrong because it depends on the people we elect how we live and how our children will live,” stated Maia Sandu. The head of state voiced hope that the citizens of the world will choose common sense, courage, humanity, honesty, truth, freedom and peace.
Romania’s Ambassador to UNESCO Simona-Mirela Miculescu, a member of the “Timisoara for European Values” jury, said that “the world is in a state of deep turmoil and, in order to be stronger, we must all contribute to developing the European construct, but also promote our values more strongly on the regional and international stage. “This prize is all the more important in the current context in which we live, in a Europe confronted with a war of aggression, a Europe where illiberal tendencies to challenge the values that animate and unite us, where radicalism and extremism of all kinds are increasingly present, are attributes that we should always bear in mind. And from this point of view, the “Timisoara for European Values” award represents a strong expression of our choice and solidarity action in favor of strengthening the European Project, in favor of defending democracy and its values,” stated the ambassador. The jury member noted that President Maia Sandu is a tireless defender of democratic values and an assiduous promoter of her country’s rapprochement with the European Union.
Timișoara mayor Dominic Fritz said President Maia Sandu believed in Moldova’s European aspirations when many considered them utopian. With incredible work, determination, courage and common sense that is rarely found in politics, she fights with perseverance to shape a European path for Moldova. The award instituted by the municipality last year by the unanimous decision of the City Council “means more than recognition of an important personality. It is a declaration that Europe is not just a geographical location or a political-administrative entity for us, but also an integral part of our identity, history and future, a future that we shape together.”
The Timișoara for European Values Award was established in 2023. The President of the Republic of Moldova became the first recipient of this award for her services in defending freedom and democratic values in Europe and in recognition of her courageous and inspired leadership model in times of crisis.
