On July 29 it is 15 years of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova. On this day in 1848, the song “Awake, Romanian!” was sung for the first time. In over 140 years, it became Romania’s anthem. It is also considered Moldova’s first unofficial anthem. The verses of “Awake, Romanian!” were written by Andrei Muresan, while the music by Anton Pann. The poem became the anthem of the revolutionaries of 1848. The song was also sung at the great assembly of Alba Iulia in 1918. After the revolution of December 1989, it became the national hymn of Romania. On August 27, 1991, the first Parliament of Moldova decided that “Awake, Romanian!” will be Moldova’s anthem. In 1994, the anthem was replaced with the song “Our Language, whose verses were written by Alexei Mateevici. Historians say Mateevici’s verses are an echo of the poem written by Andrei Muresanu, as they call to national dignity. This year, the 15th anniversary of the adoption of the Moldovan Constitution was marked on July 22 and 23 as the parliamentary elections were set for July 29. “The Constitution is a document that expresses the people’s will. The emphasis should not be placed on the shortcomings of the Constitution, but on the realization of its potential,” outgoing President Vladimir Voronin said in his speech on July 22. “The Moldovan Constitution has a purely European content, but it is not appropriately applied. Unfortunately, not the legislation, but the head of state’s instructions are now fulfilled,” said the second President of Moldova Petru Lucinschi. ”Seeing the wrongdoings committed and that many people can find justice only at the European Court of Human Rights, the ordinary people began to question the power of the law. When the rights and freedoms are not guaranteed, conditions appear for social disturbances and conflicts between the society and the state,” stressed the first President of Moldova Mircea Snegur.