On May 9, Moldova celebrates peace and the unity of the European family as the Moldovans are Europeans and their place is in the European Union. For the Republic of Moldova, this day reflects the firm commitment to the values and standards of the EU. The European Union means at home. Such messages were disseminated by the senior state officials of the Republic of Moldova on the occasion of Europe Day, IPN reports.
President Maia Sandu said that this is the first year that Moldova celebrates Europe Day as a candidate for membership of the European Union. “We have a lot of work to do, but I’m sure that one day we will celebrate Europe Day as a fully-fledged member of this big family,” stated the official. “The European Union helps us to modernize schools and hospitals, to build roads and bridges, to help the more vulnerable ones and to save human lives. Europe welcomed us with its open arms. We are increasingly respected at international level. On June 1, 50 European leaders will come to Moldova and we will have an equal place at the discussion table of the most important countries of the world. This is a clear signal that Moldova develops and becomes an important country of the civilized world.”
Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu, in a message on Europe Day, noted that “the European Union means at home, where the people live their life with confidence, where they help and respect each other, where they share sadness and joy. But they all think about a better future – together, at home”. The official said that mankind hasn’t yet learned the lesson of the past. “An aggressor state, the Russian Federation, started a horrible war by intensity, destruction and the millions of people who left their homes and went away,” he stated. Igor Grosu reminded that the symbols of aggression, war, the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine are banned in Moldova and those who will wear these symbols should assume the consequences.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean said that today we celebrate the European peace and the capacity of some of the countries to renounce the war as a foreign policy instrument. “We celebrate the European Union project, which is an economic, political, social, peace project in which we want to take part,” stated the Premier.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu said that in 78 years since the allies brought peace to the European continent, the Russian Federation brought back war to Europe, defying both international law and the memory of those who fought in World War II for peace and against Nazism. “Our country firmly condemns any aggressive action and we want to underline the importance of peace and international cooperation in promoting prosperity and stability all over Europe,” stated the Deputy Premier.
On May 9, five pro-European parties, namely the Coalition for Unity and Wellbeing, the Liberal Party, the Democracy at Home Party, the People Power Party, and the Green Ecologist Party, signed a Statement of the pro-European parties on the occasion of Europe Day. Among the immediate priorities, the signatories mentioned the Republic of Moldova’s detachment from the monopolies held by the Russian Federation in the economy, energy, and the mass media, the immediate withdrawal of the Republic of Moldova from the CIS, the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict by a courageous blueprint of actions to demilitarize, decriminalize and democratize this region and integrate it into the country’s constitutional space. “We believe that Ukraine’s victory against the Russian aggression is a justified ad legitimate cause, while the recognition of the EU accession perspective matches our national ideal of peace, freedom, democracy and preeminence of law,” runs the Statement.
“May 9 is not only the day of the nostalgic people or of military parades. It is first of all a day in which we are Europeans and can affirm with resolve this identity. The Republic of Moldova deserves to form part of the unified family of European nations and for the purpose we need the broad support of the whole Moldovan society,” stated Igor Munteanu, chairman of the Coalition for Unity and Wellbeing.
The events dedicated to Europe Day in the Republic of Moldova will take place during May 9-31.
