On the eve of Independence Day, TRIBUNA is publishing a series of materials under the heading “35 Years of Independence.” Deputy Prime Minister and MP from the Party of Action and Solidarity accepted our invitation and shared the following:

The Republic of Moldova at 35 Years of Independence

At 35 years of Independence, I see the Republic of Moldova as a country that has been through many trials and is still being built.

We have experienced economic crises, political instability, mass migration, the Transnistrian War and, today, a war on our borders. Despite all this, we have remained a state that decides its own future and has clearly chosen the European path.

But I believe we must also have the maturity to acknowledge what we have failed to accomplish. Corruption, depopulation, living standards and insufficient trust in institutions remain current problems.

For me, Independence means not only the freedom to make our own decisions. It also means the responsibility to build a state that works for its people and to create conditions in which they want to remain at home.

The Greatest Achievements

A major achievement is the very preservation of the independence and statehood of the Republic of Moldova, despite the Transnistrian War and all the pressures that followed.

Our rapprochement with the European Union is another. Candidate country status and accession negotiations represent a strategic choice and a historic opportunity for Moldova.

Another achievement, no less important, is our people. Those who have stayed, who work, create businesses, raise children and develop communities, as well as those who have gone abroad but continue to support their families and communities back home.

I would also say that over these years we have learned how important it is to maintain the bonds between people.

The Greatest Challenges. What Divides Society

The greatest challenges are related to depopulation, corruption, living standards, the quality of public services and trust in state institutions.

We need an economy that provides well-paid jobs, fair institutions and a justice system in which citizens can have confidence.

I believe the political class must also have the maturity and wisdom to acknowledge when it is wrong. We cannot build trust if we constantly try to prove that only we are right and that others are to blame for all the problems.

Differences of opinion are natural in a democratic society. What is dangerous is turning them into hatred and division.

The Transnistrian War left us with a painful lesson about how important it is to protect peace, the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Today, we have a responsibility to patiently and consistently build the conditions for the country’s reintegration and for bringing the people on both banks of the Dniester closer together.

The Future of the Republic of Moldova. What Will It Be Like in 10 Years?

I see the future of the Republic of Moldova within the European Union. But I want that, ten years from now, we should not speak only about the fact that we have become EU members, but about how people’s lives have changed.

I want a country where young people do not have to leave in order to have a future, and where those who have gone abroad have real reasons to return.

I want developed communities, better public services, modern infrastructure and institutions that people can trust.

And I want that, ten years from now, the Dniester should no longer be perceived as a line separating people, but as a river running through a united European country.

European integration and the reintegration of the country must complement each other: we must build a European state in which every citizen feels that they have a place and the same rights and opportunities.

What I Am Proud of and What I Would Tell a Foreigner About Moldova

First and foremost, our people. They are hardworking, hospitable and have an extraordinary ability to overcome hardships.

I would talk about family and the connection to one’s native place. We see this every summer, when Moldovans living abroad return home, open the gates of their parents’ homes and bring their children to show them where they come from.

I would talk about our traditions and culture, about the Romanian language, music, dance, gastronomy and the heritage preserved by generations.

I would talk about the Dniester and Moldova’s beautiful places, about our wines and about the villages where there is still a very strong bond between people.

Message to the Republic of Moldova and Its Citizens on the 35th Anniversary of Independence

At 35 years of Independence, my message is one of confidence, but also of responsibility.

Let us not forget what we have been through, including the Transnistrian War and the losses suffered by this country. Let us also not forget the people who have left and the depopulation affecting our communities.

But let us not turn these problems into reasons for disappointment. We have an obligation to build.

I believe the political class must also become more mature: have the courage to acknowledge its mistakes, learn from them and put the public interest ahead of short-term political interests.

And to the citizens I would say: do not lose faith in Moldova. This country is not perfect, and we still have a great deal to do. But Moldova is ours, and its future depends on what each of us does.

Let us build more and divide ourselves less. And 35 years from now, may the generations to come be able to say that we had the wisdom to leave them a better country than the one we inherited.

Happy Independence Day, Republic of Moldova!