Vladimir Voronin: Moldova has a unique experience of friendship and strategic partnership both with the East and the West

President Vladimir Voronin says that during the period of independence that has lasted for over a decade and a half Moldova has learned a number of lessons. In the speech delivered during the reception dedicated to the Republic’s Day, the head of state said that the first lesson is that the path to independent statehood is inseparable from the broadest freedom, from the possibility of hearing the voice of every citizen, from the ability to be receptive and attentive to the rights of those that are in minority for a certain reason. Now the Moldovan authorities solve the old Transnistrian dispute, which has the same age as Moldova’s independence, through the instruments of freedom, through rights and opportunities, through invitations to a frank dialogue. The second lesson is that the chance of becoming a competitive state can be fully used only if Moldova manages to become really interesting not only for the citizens but also for other states. To be interesting means to be a reliable partner in the foreign political relations, to be a comfortable place for investment, for a jointly interesting and non-conflict cooperation. Voronin also said that the Republic of Moldova is a state that nowadays has a unique experience of friendship and strategic partnership with the U.S., the European Union, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Caucasian and Trans-Caucasian countries. “And we are contented that the interests of these international players find accomplishment on a compromise basis in the neutral Moldova. This is a potential that we will further develop,” the chief of state said. This is a possibility reached taking into account the own mistakes, failures and shortcomings. “It is our own geopolitical success, which we do not intend to sacrifice for lifeless dogmatic schemes,” Voronin said. The third lesson is that in the contemporary world, at least in this part of Europe, the independence cannot be built without participating in global integrationist projects. The most important of them is the European integration. To be a truly open country means to be co-participant in this great project designed to unify the nations and countries, to share the responsibilities and liberties. But the European attraction is not a physical force that acts independently of our will. It is an exam testing Moldova’s capacity to reach the same level as the other formidable builders and authors of the global European project. And the Republic of Moldova becomes such a country that draws nearer to Europe without abandoning the tested pragmatic relations with the CIS states, Voronin also said. President Vladimir Voronin received congratulation messages from a number of heads of state in connection with the 16th anniversary of Moldova’s independence. He was congratulated by the U.S. President George W. Bush, President of the Federal Republic of Germany Horst Koehler, Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev, His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Belgium, President of Poland Lech Kaczinski and others. The Republic of Moldova proclaimed its independence on 27 August 1991.