Signer of Moldova's Declaration of Independence says spirit of national unity, dignity has never fallen

An MP of first parliament and one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence Alexandru Arseni today evoked the moments that had preceded the proclamation of the independence of the Republic of Moldova and spoke about the legal and historical meaning of the act adopted on August 27, 1991. The speech was delivered at a solemn session at the Presidency, dedicated to the 35 years of independence of the Republic of Moldova.

Recalling the context that led to the creation of the sovereign state, Alexandru Arseni explained that, from the point of view of constitutional and international law, independence represents “liberation from the yoke of occupation and a return to the position held before the occupation.”

He referred directly to international resolutions that condemned the harmful consequences of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact.

“Accordingly, June 28, 1940 is the day when the knife was thrust into the natural body of the Romanian nation, just as it was thrust into the natural body of the Polish nation and so on, with all consequences of the war. Afterwards, on August 2,1940, through secession, that is, on foreign territory, the Soviet government in Moscow founded the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic and established the institutions of the state, through which deportations, famine and all the disaster began,” Alexandru Arseni stressed from the rostrum.

The professor emphasized that the spirit of national unity could never be extinguished by the totalitarian regime.

“However, what cannot be stopped — because it is not in human nature — is that the spirit of national unity and of dignity has never fallen. Movements against the occupiers continued,” noted the signatory of the Declaration of Independence.

Evoking the effervescence of the 1990s, Arseni recalled the fundamental role played by the deputies of the first parliament, intellectuals, as well as the cultural symbols of the era, such as the ‘doina’ and the songs performed by Ion and Doina Aldea-Teodorovici.

One moment mentioned in the speech was the firm response of the deputies’ corps to the attempted coup d’état during the Moscow putsch, at a time when powerful Soviet troops were stationed on the country’s territory, including the 14th Army in Tiraspol.

“Measures were taken, so that these forces would respect the will of the sovereign people. There was no conflict. An extraordinary session of Parliament was convened and, at the same time, the Great National Assembly was called. The government instructed local self-administration bodies to ensure plenipotentiary delegates. For three days, people came on foot to the Great National Assembly,” Arseni said.

He described the moment in great detail, recalling how Anatol Plugaru, the chair of the Commission for Ethics, Appointments and Immunities, called out the name of each elected representative of the people, the response being a determined ‘FOR’ for freedom, followed by the singing of the anthem “Awaken, Romanian!”.

At the end of his speech, Professor Alexandru Arseni drew a parallel between the letter and the spirit of the laws, stressing that the fundamental goal of the Declaration of Independence is the return to the historical and ethnic space of national evolution.

In a symbolic formulation, Arseni told the head of state that, in his opinion, the current context offers her the opportunity to contribute to achieving the ideal of reunification.

“Today, honorable Madam President, by virtue of your evolution, you hold the crown in your hand, which you have every right and blessing to place upon the act of the reunification of the Romanian nation in the Garden of Mother of God,” the former deputy concluded.

Alexandru Arseni was a deputy in the first parliament of Moldova, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence and chair of the Commission for Human Rights. He is a university professor and a specialist in constitutional law.