The preservation of the Moldovan nation and Moldovan language with Cyrillic script and the combating of the attempts of forced Romanization are the objectives set by the Union of Moldovans in Transnistria, the Union's chairman Valerian Tulgara, who is a member of the Transnistrian Supreme Soviet, said during events held to celebrate the 17th anniversary of the foundation of the organization on January 27, Info-Prim Neo's correspondent in Tiraspol reports. According to Valerian Tulgara, the Union aims to provide the Moldovan language schools with textbooks and literature in the mother tongue. The organization, in cooperation with the Transnistrian Ministry of Education and the State Institute for Education Development, is implementing two special state programs designed to develop the education process in the Moldovan language. They are titled “Textbook”and “Development of Education in the Moldovan Language.” During the last two years, the Union helped print more than 25 volumes of artistic literature written by Moldovan contemporary writers. They were issued in over 10,000 copies. The Union of Moldovans in Transnistria supports the only local newspaper printed in the Moldovan language - “Adevarul Nistrean” (“Transnistrian Truth”). Its readers are the most active members of the Union, Valerian Tulgara added. The Union's chairman said that during the last few years the organization initiated such large-scale events as “The Memory March”, “Well – Spring of Life”, “Book is My Soul”, “Secret of National Cuisine”, “Silver Bell”, “Victory Flowers” etc. These activities involved not only Moldovans, but also other ethnic groups that live in the breakaway republic of Transnistria. Valerian Tulgara also said that a Moldovan Culture Center will be oped at the University “Taras Shevchenko” in Tiraspol in March. It will focus on the development of the international cooperation relations with other education establishments that recognize the Moldovan language with Cyrillic script and the Moldovan culture. The Moldovan Language Education Center “Stiinta” will be opened in Transnistria in the near future. Its aim is to contribute to the development of the Moldovan language with Cyrillic script in the education system and in other fields of activity. According to the census taken in 2004, the Moldovans make up 31% of the Transnistrian population, the Russians - 30%, the Ukrainians – 29%, other nationalities - 10%. On August 31, 1989, the Parliament of the former Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic passed a law on the functioning of the languages on the territory of the MSSR, whereby the Moldovan language was declared official language. The Cyrillic script was replaced with the Latin script. The given modifications were later used as reasons for secessionist movements in the Transnistrian region.