The Gagauz Autonomy celebrates on August 19 the 18th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Gagauzia. In a congratulation message to the Gagauz people, the autonomy's Governor Mikhail Formuzal described the day of 19 August 1990 as one of the most glorious pages of the new history of the Gagauz people, a landmark page for the present-day Gagauzia. This was the day that laid the foundation of the Gagauz statehood within the Republic of Moldova, the message reads. Despite its short existence, the Republic of Gagauzia has built a solid foundation for the development of the Autonomy's economy, law, culture and research. The people's unity of that time must become the key to the new challenges of the social progress, the economic growth and the spiritual emancipation of the Gagauz people, the massage says. Formuzal wishes for his people to follow with constancy the path chosen in August 1990, which symbolizes its eternal values – love for freedom and independence.