September 16 will be a day of national mourning in connection with the death of Moldova’s first President Mircea Snegur. The funerals will be held with state honors, President Maia Sandu, who transmitted a message of condolences, announced, IPN reports.

“I learned with deep sadness about the death of Mircea Snegur, the first President of the Republic of Moldova last night. Mister Snegur lived in historic times and played an essential role in promoting the independence, freedom and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova. Mircea Snegur will remain in our memory as the Man who was at the cradle of the Independence of the Republic of Moldova,” said President Sandu.

The official offered her condolences to the family, relatives and all those who knew and praised Mircea Snegur. “Long live, independent Moldova!” With these words, Mister Mircea Snegur ended his address on August 27, 1991. This wish united the Moldovans during the National Renaissance years and will guide us too in building a decent future for our children and for the Republic of Moldova,” noted Maia Sandu.

Moldova’s first President Mircea Snegur died on Wednesday evening. He suffered from an incurable disease.

Mircea Snegur was born on January 17, 1940 in Trifănești village of Soroca county. He was an agronomist-scientist, a doctor of agricultural sciences. A former activist of the Communist Party, Mircea Snegur supported the proclaiming of the Republic of Moldova’s independence and acted for the new state to be recognized by the West. Being the chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, in the critical moment in August 1989, he accepted to support the law that declared Romanian the official language and restored the tricolor. Such a step earned him Moldovans’ sympathy.

On September 3, 1990, Mircea Snegur was named president of the Republic of Moldova by the Supreme Soviet of the former Soviet republic. He held office until December 1, 1996.