A delegation of Moldovan officials accompanied by journalists, young people and ordinary citizens made a symbolic visit to the Greek capital Athens on April 28, when the Moldovans started to travel to the Schengen Area visa-free.
“Be the first who flies to Europe without visa”
The finalists of the students’ contest “Be the first who flies to Europe without visa” and six students who won Olympiads were among the first Moldovans who travelled visa-free to the Schengen Area. They accompanied the official delegation of Moldova led by Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, alongside politicians, European officials and journalists.
According to a communiqué from the Government, the young people had the occasion for discussing with Iurie Leanca and for putting him questions. Afterward, the Premier congratulated the young people. “It is a historical day that will change the people’s lives, especially of the young people. You are the future of this country and I’m glad that the visas are no longer an obstacle in your path. You will be able to travel freely to take part in conferences, summer schools and forums,” he said.
The young people also took part in a meeting with the Moldovan diaspora in Greece, visited the Acropolis Museum and the historical center of Athens. They took pictures at the main tourist attractions they visited.
Dozens of Moldovans met again their relatives
The benefits of the liberalized visa regime were tested by several relatives of Moldovans settled in Athens, who accompanied the official delegation.
Iraida Burlea saw again her two daughters and her grandson after a period of over five years. Dumitru Panaghin has a similar story. His daughter has lived in Greece for many years and only now he was able to visit her.
“The abolition of the visa requirements is a victory from which all the country’s citizens will benefit. We convinced ourselves of the advantages of the new regime today. The Moldovan citizens will be able to reunite more often, while the Moldovans from the diaspora will be able to come home easier,” stated Iurie Leanca.
“Feelings of joy and pride”
“I want to share with you the feelings that we experienced today - of joy and pride,” the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Vlad Filat said in a press beefing upon the return from Athens.
He noted that the obtaining of the liberalized visa regime was a very difficult process, but this accomplishment showed to the people in Moldova and to the whole world that we are able to set ambitious goals and to achieve them.
“It is the most definite and serious step on our path to plenary integration into the EU’s area of values,” said Vlad Filat, adding that the next steps are the signing and ratification of the Association Agreement and, shortly afterward, the gaining of the status of accession candidate, which is also an achievable objective.
Feeling of ‘iron curtain’
The leader of the Democratic Party Marian Lupu said that April 28 marks a very important stage on our country’s development path. He expressed his conviction that the next steps – the signing and ratification of the Association Agreement – will take place by the end of the current parliamentary session.
“We saw today how the parents met again their children after many years (...). It’s absolutely evident that this decision changed radically the lives of many Moldovans,” stated Marian Lupu.
“Years ago, when a number of countries with which Moldova had a visa-free regime were obliged to introduce this regime, many of our people started to have the feeling of “iron curtain”, at the border between Moldova and the European Union. Today we witness a change that we can describe as the fall of this curtain.”
The story of Thomas the Unbeliever
The head of the Liberal Reformist Party Ion Hadarca also experienced a felling of great joy. “This day is one of the rare occasions of happiness, after the Great National Assembly, the proclamation of independence, and the initialing of the Association Agreement in Vilnius. This is another day of joy in the history of our nation, of which we all must be proud,” he said.
Given that it was the feast of Low Sunday, Ion Hadarca reminded the biblical parable of Thomas the Unbeliever, advising the skeptics to experience themselves the benefits of the liberalized visa regime. ”Thousands of our citizens will yet convince themselves of the advantages of this day of freedom,” he noted.