Two occasions, single monument: Stefan cel Mare gets flowers on Victory Day and Europe’s Day

09.05.2009 11:24
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2 minute(s)

People crowded in the morning of May 9 to the monument of the Moldavian prince Stefan the Great to lay flowers and honor the medieval leader on the occasion of two holidays: the Victory Day and Europe’s Day. The first wreaths were laid by outgoing president Vladimir Voronin and MPs Marian Lupu and Zinaida Greceanai. They were accompanied by other officials and veterans of World War II, marking the Victory against Fascism, a holiday in Moldova. After laying the flowers, the officials got on their cars and went to the Eternitate Memorial, to attend a meeting dedicated to the Victory Day. After the officials left, members of the European Action Movement (MAE) laid flowers to Stefan’s Monument. MAE’s leader Anatol Petrencu has told Info-Prim Neo that his party marks the Europe Day “like it is celebrated in the member countries of the European Union.” “Since Moldova pretends to be willing to join the EU, MAE marks Europe’s Day, entailing May 9, 1950, and not 1945 as the Moldovan authorities celebrate.” After laying flowers to the prince’s monument, Anatol Petrencu has specified that “Stefan the Great defended Europe from eastern invasions.” Marked on May 9 in most of the former USSR countries, including Moldova, the Victory Day is to commemorate Germany’s capitulation in World War II, signed in Berlin later in the evening of May 8, 1945. Five years later on May 9, 1950, French foreign minister Robert Schuman, later dubbed “the father Europe,” presented his memorable proposal to form an united Europe.