Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi today addressed a message on the Day of Memory and Gratitude.

The message reads:  

„Dear Veterans,

Today, we commemorate the sacrifice of those who died in the 1992 armed conflict for Moldova’s integrity and independence and the victims of this conflict, as well as reaffirm the commitment to honour their patriotism and not forget. We also address by bowing and with deep gratitude to the survivors and thank them for heroism and courage they proved on the battlefield. Twenty nine years have passed since the beginning of the bloody actions at Dniester – an event which left a deep and painful trace in the memory of each citizen of our country. During the four months of hostilities, we paid a too high price for freedom, which resulted in losses of human lives and thousands of mutilated fates.
     

Hundreds of families still mourn for their sons, brothers, who went with their chins up to defend their country, but they did not return from the battlefields of Cosnita, Cocieri or Tighina. The best gratitude expressed for them is to have holy memory about them at each grave of patriot, up to the hearts beating in each home of this country. Undoubtedly, the deeds of our heroes will last for centuries and will inspire us to fulfill great things in the name of Moldova’s future.      

The 1992 armed conflict left a dark result in the history of our country and opened a wound which will never be cured. About 33,500 people participated in fights, proving bravery and courage, of whom 299 died and another 289 got invalidity degrees.
 

The preservation of the memory of the past for the next generations and protection of the survivors represent the sacred duty of Moldova. The public commemoration of the victims and the promotion of knowledge through education about the 1992 armed conflict for the defence of Moldova’s integrity and independence represent a gesture of solidarity and rapprochement, as well as a fundamental instrument for combating the ignorance and indifference. In this respect, a string of activities are annually organized with the government’s support on 2 March, to eternalize the memory of those who died in the war. The Memory Day was established under the Moldovan parliament’s Decision No 433, in order to pay homage to the heroism of Moldova’s citizens who fell in the fights for the country’s defence and on 12 February 2021, this day was renamed Day of Memory and Gratitude.          

At the same time, I want to say that, during 2020, Moldova’s government came up with a string of measures of social protection for veterans and namely: providing the free of charge health insurance to the unemployed veterans, giving the right of treatment in sanatoriums, increase in the state social allocations.   

Dear veterans,

On my own behalf and on behalf of Moldova’s government, I highly appreciate the courage, bravery, patriotism of all policemen, military, reservists and fighters, who defended the national values, the independence and territorial integrity of Moldova. We assure you that your heroism will be studied by the next generations and will eternally remain in the genetic memory of the people.
   

I wish you good health and prosperity!

Thank you!”