Each year on May 9, the European community celebrates peace and unity in Europe on Europe Day. On this day, a large part of the CIS countries continue to celebrate Victory Day. In the Republic of Moldova, the concept of marking victory over fascism, despite colossal human losses sustained by all the parties involved in World War II, continues to be a bone of contention. In a new Sic! article about May 9, when society is divided into two because of one more reason, three historians – Vlad Mischevca, Dan Nicu and Virgil Paslariuc – commented on several of the recent statements made by President Igor Dodon about the day of May 9, IPN reports.
President Dodon said earlier about Europe Day on May 9: “We categorically condemn the adoption of the decision to institute Europe Day on May 9. I intend to block the promulgation of this decision. In the Republic of Moldova, we celebrated and will celebrate Victory Day. The memory of our heroic ancestors who freed the world from fascism is holy for us”. Vlad Mischevca considers things are clear. Europe Day unites nations and reminds of the ordeal of World War II, while Victory Day, in the form of the Russian propaganda, is a counterbalance. For his part, Dan Nicu said Igor Dodon has the right, according to the Constitution, to block the promulgation of an act adopted by Parliament, but only once. If Parliament adopts the normative act again, it is published in the Official Gazette and Igor Dodon has no constitutional right to hamper the coming into force of this act.
Virgil Paslariuc said in 1950 on May 9, Robert Schuman issued a Statement that laid the foundations of the European Union. By the proposal to create the European Coal and Steel Community – transnational organization that would unify the industries of France, Germany and other states – the bases of a new continental community were laid. “It is a symbolic gesture because it is an important step towards the historical conciliation between the two belligerent nations – France and Germany, which were at the origin of the two world wars. The European aspirations of the Republic of Moldova, reflected inclusively in official documents, make Dodon’s statement illegal,” stated the historian.
As regards Victory Day, Virgil Paslariuc said it’s known that the armistice between the representatives of the anti-Hitler coalition and those of Germany was signed in Berlin on May 8. The representative of the Soviet side, Marshal Jukov, delayed his arrival at the conference as long as he could so that the final document was signed after 11pm. By Moscow’s time, it was already May 9. Stalin took such a decision in order to divide the celebration of Victory Day in Europe, making a first symbolic step towards the dismemberment of the coalition and what was later called the drop of the iron curtain.
The full article in the Romanian can be read on sic.md. Sic! is a project implemented by IPN News Agency with support from Soros Foundation Moldova.
