Appeal by academic community of Moldova, Romania to two countries' presidents: “Reunification of Romanian people is legitimate option''

The Romanian academic community on both banks of the Prut has addressed a message to the presidents of Romania and Moldova, requesting the initiation of institutional and academic reflection on the prospects for the reunification of the Romanian people, in the context of current geopolitical challenges and the European integration path of Moldova.

In the document, the academic community reaffirms its support for the European path of Moldova, while emphasizing that current international developments require examining all democratic and constitutional options regarding the common future of Romanians.

“The Romanian Academic Council considers it necessary to calmly, rigorously and responsibly examine all democratic, constitutional and European solutions that can ensure the common future of Romanians on both banks of the Prut. Among these solutions, the reunification of the Romanian people represents a legitimate option, based on the unity of language, culture, history and spirituality, that is, on the Romanian national identity,” the message reads.

The signatories stress that any potential reunification should not be seen as an emotional or circumstantial reaction, but as the result of a democratic process and an in-depth analysis.

“Reunification cannot be the expression of momentary political pressure, but the result of a democratic will assumed by the citizens of the two Romanian states, in full respect of constitutional norms, European principles and international law. The future of the Romanians must be decided by Romanians, in a democratic way,” the document notes.

The Romanian Academic Council considers that the prospect of reunification does not run counter to the goal of European integration for Moldova.

In the context, the academic community proposes the establishment of a joint strategic reflection commission, made up of experts from the two states, the drafting of an academic study on the historical, legal and economic premises of the rapprochement between Romania and Moldova, as well as the launch of a broad public dialogue on future options.

At the same time, the signatories believe that the current European context creates favorable conditions for such a debate.

''It is unnatural for the larger part of a people to be part of European democratic structures, while a smaller part does not belong to these structures. In a similar situation, immediately after the fall of communism, another people and the responsible actors of the European Union found the best solution to follow. Now, in the case of the Romanians, a similar formula can be applied, adapted to current conditions,” the message also reads.

The message was adopted at the headquarters of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova and is signed by representatives of the main academies and academic institutions from Romania and Moldova, led by President of the Romanian Academy Acad. Ioan-Aurel Pop and President of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Acad. Ion Tighineanu.