Victor Stepaniuc: “Our language is Moldovan, but conditions should be created for the ones insisting it’s Romanian”. Info-Prim Neo interview with deputy premier Victor Stepaniuc

[ - The fact that the Constitution establishes that the official language of the state is Moldovan leaves unhappy a part of the Moldovan intelligentsia or the academic environment. On the other hand, if the Constitution wrote that the official language is Romanian, it would leave dissatisfied another category of citizens. Do you have any solution to this dilemma that Moldova has been coping with since declaring its independence?] - No doubt it’s a situation when the Constitution establishes that Moldovan is the official language, and I think this formula is the most correct, but taking into the real situation that emerged after 1991, as a compromise variant we can write in brackets it is Romanian next to Moldovan in the Constitution so that whole society understands they one and the same language. It is the same language that some say it is a language identical with Romanian, while other say it’s absolutely the same language that a part of our citizens and the neighboring country Romania call it Romanian. Personally I stand for the first version. A decision is to be made in this respect but we don’t have time. I also think this problem could solved in a referendum, or by changing modifying the Constitution. These are the only two legal ways. The Moldovans and the co-habiting peoples cannot have anything against the language it’s a nonsense. To be proud of the Moldovan culture, to be proud of the Moldovan language is probably a first duty, the greatest duty of our people. Our language is Moldovan. If someone also wants to call it Romanian, and insists on it, then conditions should be created for that person, too. Other peoples can also meditate on August 31 that the state language is Moldovan and it should be learnt. But we also have the Gagauz language, Bulgarian, Ukrainian and Russian and one should remember that on this day one should remember that we have national minorities and one should also meditate on those languages. Especially for the last 17 years, I should recognize that absolutely favorable conditions for the study of all languages have been created. [ - Please continue the poet’s line: “Our language is...”] - Is Moldovan. [ - On August 27 one celebrates the Day of Republic. Earlier it was called the Independence Day. Which is the justification of this change made by the Communists Party after coming to power in Moldova, as you are a member of this party?] - No problem. This change was made by the Parliament when it specified the name of a number of national holidays. It’s Republic’s Day since it is recognized that our state had some sovereignty in the Soviet era, but it was independence, it was a kind of limited sovereignty, and only after 27 August 1991, the state became fully independent. I‘d say in most of the states this is the only national holiday. The Legislature considered it to be the most, the most correct decision to call it the Republic Day. [ - Is it wrong to call the Independence Day?] - It’s not a big mistake, but it’s the state’s main holiday so it should be called, correctly, the Republic Day. [ - Do you think the anthem Moldova has now is describing for this country. For example, the Moldovan sportspeople whose native language may not be the official one, do you think this anthem can mobilize them enough when they fight...?] - I agree. Certainly, it would be good to find a new text for the state anthem. No doubt “Our Language” is an anthem of the mother tongue, but it’s only an anthem of the mother tongue. But case of a national anthem for the independent Moldovan state more is necessary. A special text is needed. [ - Do you have one already?] - We don’t. There are several variants but they remained only discussed and I think we will have to discuss them in the future. [ - Does the Government want to propose anything in this respect?] - It doesn’t. A decision on the issue was discussed only as a concept.