To succeed we should be proud of what we are, but also work to be better. Interview by Info-Prim Neo with the leader of the Democrat Party of Moldova Dumitru Diacov

[ - Is the anniversary of 16 years of independence somehow different from the other anniversaries?] Not necessarily. It is an important day for the citizens of this country. It has a special symbolic and sentimental content. The Republic of Moldova in the 16 years of existence witnessed political intrigue and cleavages, with us pleading for a constructive consensus. Sixteen years were necessary for some people to acknowledge that out future is near the EU and that we must build, not find a trailer that will take us out of the crisis. [ - What successes and failures has Moldova witnessed during the 16 years of independence?] Unfortunately, we have yet to demonstrate that out state is viable, that it has the capacity to offer normal living and working conditions to its citizens and to face the challenges of this changing world. The fact that the citizens, especially the young ones, are less confident that we will have a better future is a reason for worry for all of us. The solutions should be found immediately and not tomorrow. [- Why do you think that Moldova is classed as the poorest state in Europe, with a recent study by the US magazine “Foreign Policy” ranking Moldova as the least stable country in Europe on the eve of Independence?] We cannot be proud of our poverty of course. This is a question more for the governors, because this shows their performance. I consider that the biggest problem is related to two elements: consensus and continuity. The government-opposition relation was permanently marked by a fight on barricades steered by the selfish interest and not by a national constructive consensus, so that Moldova was a state with advantaged and disadvantaged people. This fact strengthened the conflict and regress. The second element, the continuity, was absent in the relations between the governments, projects, state desiderates and national strategies. [ - When and how will it get rid of these tags?] A lot depends on the political will, the political class’s maturity, its capacity to find compromise solutions. It may sound prosaic as I said this many times, but the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) always stressed the necessity of adopting a more advanced political dialogue, where there is compromise and consensus. We must get rid of provincialism in what we do, how we think or how we act. [Do you think that independent Moldova’s strategic objective of European integration is irreversible?] Yes, because the political intentions are accompanied by certain objective realities. The European Integration objective consolidates not only the political class, but the whole society. PDM regards the European integration process first of all as a process of implementing the European traditions, values and standards in the Republic of Moldova. We must build a Europe at home, develop the economy, offer the citizens protection and normal living conditions in a veritable democracy. [A year after changing the name of the national holiday from Independence Day into Republic’s Day, do you think that the change was reasonable?] I consider this an artificial intervention. On the Republic’s Day, we will celebrate the independence of the country, as usual. The content is important. It is a historical event that must be accepted as it is, with its name, and marked on August 27. [ - Did the Moldovan people deserve the administrations that ruled during the independence period? Being earlier and now in power or aspiring to power, would you like such a people?] All of us, the ordinary people and the governors, lacked experience while building the state. Little by little, the conscience of our citizen crystallizes. Anyway it is a process in evolution and we are part of this process, either we belong to the political class or are ordinary people. If we want to succeed, we should be proud of what we have and what we are, but also work to be better and change the things to the better.