President's message on Moldova's Independence Day

Honored guests,

Dear friends,

We deeply thank you for your wishes and the support you give to the Republic of Moldova and to these wonderful young people who are the future of the Republic of Moldova. 

Dear friends, 

34 years ago, right here in this square, together with many of you or together with your parents and grandparents, we rejoiced, we marveled at the fact that the Republic of Moldova became free again. We rejoiced, we marveled at being able to speak the Romanian language, at being able to talk about the true history of our people. We rejoiced knowing that we were no longer isolated and that the whole world was opening up before us.

We rejoiced at escaping a totalitarian regime and embarked on creating a democratic state where the dignity of each one of us is respected. 

These 34 years have not been the easiest. We've been through hardships, but we've learned and grown together, and today we are proud of our achievements.

We have shown that we are brave, that we are not afraid. We defend our freedom and sovereignty every day. We have demonstrated that we work honestly at home or anywhere in the world. We have demonstrated that we are united, and that is why Moldova is today called "a small country with a big heart." We have demonstrated that we are reliable partners, and that is why we have such valuable friends. 

We have managed to set Moldova on the path of European integration because we want and deserve to live in peace, to strengthen our democracy, and to bring Europe home. 

We want to live in the Republic of Moldova just as well as people live in European countries. I know there are still forces that want to stop us, but we are strong. We are strong because we are united, and we are strong because we have extraordinary friends. 

It is our duty to our parents and grandparents who regained freedom, and it is our duty to our young people and children to build a European Moldova, a free Moldova, a Moldova where each of us knows they are protected, knows they can develop, grow, flourish. 

Let us take care of our country, love it every day, guard it, and protect it every day. 

Happy Independence Day, Moldova!