Outgoing president Vladimir Voronin described the assertions that he presented the largest number of state awards that appeared in the media as groundless, Info-Prim Neo reports. He stated this at a festive meeting dedicated to the 18th anniversary of the foundation of the Customs Service on September 4. At the meeting, Voronin read the presidential decree to confer the title of Major General to the director general of the Customs Service Viorel Melnic and handed him over the epaulettes. Also, a number of customs officers received honorary diplomas of the Government and the Customs Service, while other Customs Service employees were promoted to a higher rank. Voronin said that he asked the relevant presidential service to collect information about state awards and was furnished with statistics that he described “interesting”. “While president, Mircea Snegur awarded by 440 honors a year, Petru Lucinschi – by 280 honors a year. I awarded by only 214,” he said. The departing head of state praised the Customs Service for its work. He said that the personnel policy implemented at this institution is good as he sees many young persons in the hall. According to Vladimir Voronin, though the revenues collected from the Customs Service into the budget in the eight months to August fell by 30%, significant steps were taken to correctly assess the goods in the customs, to combat contraband and corruption. “Of course, there are many shortcomings as the prices in Moldova are higher than in the developed countries, of building materials for instance. Therefore, a square meter of dwelling is more expensive than in the U.S. Much depends on the selling price of the imported goods. All the services of the Government should work on this, not only the Customs Service,” he added. The Head of Parliament Mihai Ghimpu also congratulated the Customs Service “on the coming of age”. “At this age, the Customs Service of Moldova is a modern, European-type institution, while its employees are competent and capable of fulfilling their duties according to the exigencies and universally accepted standards,” the new Speaker says in his message. “The improved qualifications of the customs workers, the development of international cooperation relations and the implementation of advanced technology contributed to better working methods at the customs, aimed at increasing the collections into the budget, fighting smuggling and ensuing the economic security of the state.” Moldova’s Customs Service was founded on September 4, 1991, a week after the declaration of the country’s independence.