Bucharest, March 29 /Agerpres/ - 96 years since the Union of Bessarabia and Romania, Romanian and Moldovans are divided in two states, but 'Romanians across the Prut River belong to the body of the Romanian nation', Romanian President Traian Basescu said on Thursday at the ceremony of decoration of several personalities of the Republic of Moldova.

'On this celebration day of 96 years since Bessarabia's Union with the motherland, I have invited to [the Presidential Palace of] Cotroceni Romanians from across the Prut to offer them a sign of gratitude for all their achievements in promoting the Romanian language and spirituality in the Republic of Moldova. I have chosen this day because March 27 is an important day in the history of the Romanian nation, and the union of all Romanians into a single state has been an ideal sought for centuries by the Romanian people. We may not forget that Bessarabia has been the first province to take the step to the accomplishment of Greater Romania in 1918, when Sfatul Tarii [National Assembly], the Legislative of the Moldavian Democratic Republic has decided the union of the province of Bessarabia with Romania.Today we are divided into two states, but we are the same people, and Romanian across the Prut [River] are a part of the body of the Romanian nation; this isi why I have always acted based on this conviction that we must do everything we can to be together again,' Basescu said.

He also asserted that Romanians and Moldovan 'share the same blood, speak the same language, and want their states to have this unique relation allowing them to be as close as possible to each other.'

'I want you to know that we respect the Republic of Moldova and all its citizens, irrespective their ethnicity, the same way we praise all Romanian citizens. I also want you to know that there are Russian ethnics in Romania, too, enjoying all the necessary conditions at European standards to preserve their specific, their language and spiritual identity, because this cultural diversity contributes to the fulfilment of the Romanian state,' the President added.

He pointed out that Romania supports the integration of the Republic of Moldova into the European Union, because this country should benefit from the same rights and liberties guaranteed by the EU.

The head of state also mentioned that Romania has simplified the procedure for regaining the Romanian citizenship over the recent years, and the number of grants for Moldovan citizens has increased to 5,000. He indicated that Romania will keep supporting the 'Romanian spirituality and culture in Bessarabia.'

'I am convinced that there are many Bessarabian Romanians who would deserve to be here in the Union Hall of the Cotroceni Palace today, to be decorated. It's a truth for me that without the scholars' devotion, without the writers' and journalists' involvement, without the dedication of Romanian priests and of all those to faithfully rejoice the defence of the Romanian people's heritage we cannot achieve the ideal of Union, which compels us to confidently contemplate a shared future,' the head of state said.

On Wednesday, President Traian Basescu had signed the decree of decoration of several personalities of the Republic of Moldova, including the first democratic prime minister of the country Mircea Druc, Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, and the artistic director and leading conductor of the National Folk Music Orchestra 'Lautarii' ['The Fiddlers'] Nicolae Botgros. AGERPRES

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