On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the declaration of Moldova’s Independence, IPN News Agency decided to depict the portrait of the current Republic of Moldova. For the purpose, it provoked a number of people, including state officials, politicians, businessmen, civil rights activists and persons without posts and titles, but who have what to say. The generic picture is called “Thoughts about and for Moldova”.
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The executive director of the Public Association “Motivatie” (“Motivation”) Igor Meriacre: “I would like and will make every effort for my country to wake up and understand that we must work a lot to be independent.”
Igor Meriacre is 46 and 25 years of these are the years after the accident. The accident that happened in 1991, when Moldova declared its Independence, confined him to a wheelchair. “My fate practically repeats the fate and history of Moldova. I learned to be an active citizen forced by the situation in which I was, similar to Moldova, which had to go through crisis and through betrayal as well,” stated Igor Meriacre.
As the health and rehabilitation systems and the social system in general are yet defective, he didn’t have chances to study and to find employment. According to him, the freedom of expression is the only positive thing that he got. But this thing does not really help the persons with disabilities: “You can stay between four walls and state your opinion as long as you want. We have spoken about the same problems for years, but things haven’t changed.”
On the 25th anniversary of its Independence, Igor Meriacre sees Moldova as a country that stopped struggling and floats without caring who and how governs it. “I pity the people who wasted their health and even life on the altar of Independence. Civil society that developed in the period became stronger, but not yet enough to motivate the people to be active and to take attitude in periods of crisis,” he stated.
From his viewpoint, of an NGO member, the development of the NGO sector is a big accomplishment in these 25 years. The NGOs spoke openly about the problems, looked for solutions and implemented these, forced the authorities to change the situation, developed innovative services that improved the life of people from many vulnerable groups. The development of independent press is another accomplishment. This enabled to or, at least, tried to create a transparent society.
Igor Meriacre said the failures are regretfully many in number. “First of all, as a people we are afraid to combine forces and change the country’s destiny. We didn’t learn that we are the masters of this country, not those whom we elect. We are still waiting for someone to come and solve our problems. Even if we are hardworking, we are mean and, if we come to power, we ‘bury’ those who are close to us. We got used to begging. Our authorities do not speak about solutions. They always repeat: “With the assistance of the development partners”. The fact that we allowed thieves to rob our country is a big failure and this shows our character as a nation, which has its roots in the Soviet period,” stated Igor Meriacre.
He compares Independence with powerful, honest and upright people. A country can be independent only when most of its people are so. Regretfully, there are not many such people in Moldova, as he believes. The only answer for a child who would ask him why he should be proud of being a citizen of Moldova is that he should be proud of his ancestors who created the history of this land and struggled for its integrity and independence.
If a foreigner asked him why he chose Moldova as his home, Igor Meriacre would answer that this is the land where he was born, where he lived his happiest childhood moments and where the people who speak the same language as he live. He chose to live here because it is a picturesque land and a country about which he cares and considers that its people deserve a better future. The Moldovans are hardworking and helpful, but they must yet learn many things. If they kept and developed the old traditions, they would be more valuable than gold.
“I don’t regret that I remained here. I had chances to leave, but I still believe in the future of this country and this people. Wake up, Moldova!!!,” concluded Igor Meriacre.
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After the accident of 1991, at the age of 21, he had to adjust to a new life in wheelchair. To earn his living, he started to repair domestic appliances. In 1995, with his savings, he purchased an old car that he reequipped and used as a taxi for a period. In 2001, he was employed as a technician at the Community Center for Children and Youth, while in 2002 he registered the Public Association “Motivatie” of Moldova, becoming its executive director. Since then, he has grown up and learned together with “Motivatie”, and together with the team, developed programs and services that are vital for persons with locomotor disabilities. They were the first to open in the country the Center for Independent Life and developed the abilities of young people by adjusted sports such as basketball and tennis in wheelchair and many other services. Currently, “Motivatie” implements several programs such as assisted employment, monitoring and promotion of accessibility conditions, etc.
Elena Nistor, IPN
The articles of the series “Thoughts about and for Moldova” started to be published on July 18. Among the protagonists are: Dumitru Alaiba, Iurie Ciocan, Ana-Maria Tulea, Ion Manole, Olga Gagauz, Stella Ciobanu, Iurie Leanca, Victor Parlicov, Igor Meriacre, Arcadie Barbaosie, Nicolae Botgros, Igor Dodon, Eugen Doga, Ghenadie Galca, Iulia Iabanji, Petru Macovei, Andrei Nastase, Mariana Onceanu Hadarca, Maia Sandu, Valeria Seican etc.
