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Anatol Petrencu: After August 27, 1991, many people believed that March 27, 1918 would repeat itself


https://www.ipn.md/index.php/en/anatol-petrencu-after-august-27-1991-many-people-believed-that-7978_1067712.html

In the Republic of Moldova, the population’s living standards are the lowest compared to other states of Europe. State bodies have been compromised by various schemes of corruption, protection, nepotism etc. It is the opinion of historian Anatol Petrencu, asked by IPN to speak on the situation in the Republic of Moldova 28 years after the proclamation of independence.

The historian states that the Republic of Moldova has become a state of "international notoriety" due to the bank fraud of one billion euros and its inability to find the stolen money and the perpetrators.

However, at least for now, it is a state that ensures the security of citizens, where one can live. Now, there are states in the world that are much more dangerous to people's lives.

In the opinion of Anatol Petrencu, "the Moldovan state brought shame on itself by expelling the Turkish teachers, extraditing them to Recep Erdogan’s despotic regime." "He sent innocent people to terrible torments or maybe even death. What an embarrassment! That is why the ECHR obligated the Republic of Moldova to pay financial compensation to the families of the extradited teachers,” says the historian.

Anatol Petrencu mentions that, when the Republic of Moldova proclaimed its independence from the USSR, many people believed that the history of March 27, 1918 would repeat itself, that the declaration of unification with Romania would follow. But these hopes were shattered over time. "The leadership of the country did not bring up the problem of uniting with Romania promptly, openly, accepting the support of the masses," argues Anatol Petrencu.

"On the other hand, Bucharest and its top leader Ion Iliescu, a Mihail Gorbachev’s university colleague, hesitated to insist on the unification issue." Anatol Petrencu recalls that subsequently the Republic of Moldova joined the CIS, in December 1991, then the war on the Dniester followed from March to July 1992, which discouraged the supports of the reunification. "With this concatenation of events, the issue has not been solved until today," says the historian.

Anatol Petrencu also maintains that the Republic of Moldova possesses the features of a state, having a Parliament, Government, Presidency, Justice system and Media. According to the Constitution, the fundamental rights and freedoms are ensured. "But, unfortunately, Article 13 contains a Stalinist falsehood claiming that the state language is the Moldovan language, when the correct name is the Romanian language." Another falsehood, says the historian, is contained in the article that stipulates that "the Republic of Moldova proclaims its permanent neutrality", when there is a contingent of Russian military forces as well as "peacekeepers" who are also Russians on our territory.

Anatol Petrencu believes that "the balance established in the Republic of Moldova between the advocates of joining the EU and the supporters of the socialists in favour of obeying Russia will be maintained with the prospect of increasing the rate of followers of European integration". This fact, the historian contends, will increase the number of supporters of the Romanian national reunification.
 

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On August 27, 1991, 28 years ago, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova adopted the Declaration of Independence, a document signed by 278 deputies. This founding act is celebrated every year as Independence Day. The original declaration burned during the 2009 protests in Chisinau, but was restored in 2010.