Moldovan president conveys congratulatory message on National Day of Romania

Chisinau, 1 December /MOLDPRES/ - Romania celebrates its National Day on 1 December. ‘’This day reminds us about the deep relation between the two banks of the Prut river,’’ President Maia Sandu has said at a reception given on this occasion. The 106th anniversary of the Union of the Transylvania, Banat, Crisana and Maramures with Romania is marked on 1 December. This day has been celebrated by the Romanians since 1990.        

President Maia Sandu: „Romania is for us the shoulder on which we lean in difficulty.’’   

Romania is the strategic partner of Moldova on the European integration way and the country which continues to provide assistance in crisis situations. ‘’Romania is for us the shoulder on which we lean in difficulty. As well as the shoulder along which we move in moments of celebration. And we want a strong shoulder! For us to support each other and move, shoulder to shoulder, towards a better future. We want a free and strong Romania, as much as we want a free and strong Moldova. As the things between sisters are like this! Congratulations, Romania! Congratulations to all Romanians!’’ Maia Sandu said.      

„Romania is the partner on which Moldova can rely in all circumstances. We proved this through concrete deeds. The Romanians achieved, through huge sacrifices, the right to join the democratic community and we want also Moldova to be member of the great European family, to which it belongs de jure. We will work in continuation for this desideratum and we will succeed also together,’’ Romania’s Ambassador to Moldova Cristian-Leon Turcanu said.   

Moldova - Romania, over three decades of diplomatic relations

Romania was one of the first states to recognize the independence of the Republic of Moldova just hours after its proclamation (27 August 1991).  The diplomatic relations, at the level of embassy, were established on 29 August 1991. The Embassy of Romania was the first diplomatic representation opened by a state in Moldova’s capital (it starting working on 20 January 1992). Till June 1993, it was led at the level of interim charge d’affaires. The first Romanian ambassador was accredited in Chisinau in June 1993. The first ambassador of Moldova in Romania was accredited in January 1992. Presently, Romania’s Ambassador to Moldova is Cristian-Leon Turcanu and Ambassador of Moldova to Romania – Victor Chirila.  

Romania since 2014 has been the principal commercial partner of Moldova, among the main investors of Moldova, with the presence of more than 1,500 Romanian companies in Moldova. The investments in the registered share capital amounted to about six billion Moldovan lei.  

During those over 30 years since the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic relations, more far-reaching strategic projects have been implemented in Moldova, among which the construction of the Iasi-Chisinau gas pipeline, renovation of kindergartens and culture buildings, creation of the SMURD programme and providing of assistance in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2022, Romania provided material assistance in 55 tons of essential products, aimed to help the Ukrainian refugees who settled on the territory of Moldova. In January 2022, the government of Romania approved a memorandum for the negotiation and signing of the Agreement between the governments of Romania and Moldova on the implementation of the programme on technical and financial assistance. The document sees the providing of a non-refundable financial assistance worth 100 million euros to Moldova.    

At present, Romania provides Moldova with assistance to overcome the energy crisis faced by the country because of the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine.  

National Day of Romania, celebrated by a Military Parade Ziua

The National Day of Romania is celebrated in Bucharest by a Military Parade, at which also servicemen from Moldova defile along with Romanian military and the ones who came from other countries.

Significance of the 1 December Day

The day of 1 December was proclaimed National Day of Romania in 1990, being marked for the first time in Alba Iulia. Since then, military parades have taken place and numerous ceremonies, comprising laying of flower wreaths have been organized both in Bucharest and in most cities from all over the country.   

The choosing of the 1 December day is connected with the Union of Transylvania, Banat, Crisana and Maramures with Romania in 1918 and respectively, the Proclamation from Alba Iulia. The day of 1 December 1918 crowns the fight of the Romanians from Transylvania for National Unity and marks the moment of the foundation of the Greater Romania and took place as a continuation of the previous unionist actions from Bessarabia (27 March 1918) and Bucovina (15/28 November 1918).