Tribute paid to Grigore Vieru in Chisinau

Authors, scholars and students laid flowers and recited poetry at Grigore Vieru’s bust on the Alley of Classics on Friday, October 26, to mark the opening of the 4th International Poetry Festival “Grigore Vieru” in Chisinau, Info-Prim Neo reports. Claudia Balaban, director of the National Library for Children “Ion Creanga” and organizer of the festival, told Info-Prim Neo that this was a duplex event, taking place in Iasi and Chisinau. “This morning, I attended a memorial service at Grigore Vieru’s grave in the Central Cemetery in Chisinau. Afterwards, we met on the Alley of Classics to talk about the most beautiful poetry dedicated to mother and motherland. The festival includes a colloquy of local writers and some who have come from Romania, as well as an award ceremony for debutant writers. The big award is the unique chance to publish for free the debutant’s poetry volume. This year the winner is an 18-year-old from Bacau”, said Claudia Balaban. Romanian Ambassador in Chisinau Marius Lazurca attended the flower-laying ceremony and stated that the festival was an occasion to remember the great poet Grigore Vieru. “Young and old we all came to the poet’s bust to remember his poetry and, more importantly, his role the national revival movement in Moldova. It’s an occasion to strengthen the link between the two banks of the Prut with the name of our Romanian language and the values that unite us”, said the Ambassador. Writer Nicolae Dabija said that when Grigore Vieru was born, God kissed his forehead and heart, because the poet’s heart was as big as his poetic genius. “We miss him. Grigore Vieru was more than a poet and a writer. He was a moral institution. The greatest tribute we can pay him is to read his work and talk about it”, said Nicolae Dabija. On Saturday, October 28, at 10 AM, writers from several countries will meet at the National Library “Ion Creanga”. At 12 AM, they will go to the Pedagogical University “Ion Creanga”, where Grigore Vieru had studied and where a hall was named after him.