Moldovan history bid goes up in flames

Plans by Moldova's ministry of education to introduce a course entitled "History of Moldova" were scrapped last week following ten days of student strikes, protests, rallies and 바카라사이트 public burning of 바카라사이트 new textbooks.

The students demanded that 바카라사이트 current course taught in schools and universities, "History of 바카라사이트 Romanian People" be kept unchanged.

After ten days of confrontation, a special government negotiating commission announced that 바카라사이트 proposed change had been "withdrawn from 바카라사이트 agenda". But this did not satisfy 바카라사이트 students. They called for 바카라사이트 resignation of 바카라사이트 government and a change in 바카라사이트 Moldovan constitution so that 바카라사이트 official language of 바카라사이트 country be called "Romanian".

For all practical purposes, 바카라사이트 Moldovan language is identical to Romanian.

Under Soviet rule an artificial distinction was made by writing Moldovan in cyrillic script, but in 바카라사이트 late 1980s a campaign to restore 바카라사이트 Latin script began and cyrillic was already being phased out when 바카라사이트 Soviet Union fell apart. In 바카라사이트 first months of 바카라사이트 post-Soviet period, it was widely expected that Moldova would seek unification with Romania. This prompted 바카라사이트 decision of 바카라사이트 Slav minority in 바카라사이트 province of Trandnistria to declare independence from Moldova and fuelled 바카라사이트 armed conflict which followed.

Moldova's current leaders are determined to preserve independence, and 바카라사이트 country is about to become a full member of 바카라사이트 Council of Europe.

Ironically, those who wish 바카라사이트 language to be called Romanian also claim to support Moldovan independence. Addressing a student rally, one leading opposition activist, Alexandru Mosanu, warned that if 바카라사이트 fight for 바카라사이트 Romanian language and history is lost "Moldova will be drawn into 바카라사이트 CIS empire".

President Mircea Snegur has tried to capitalise on 바카라사이트 protests by claiming that 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y took place at all is "proof of democracy in Moldova". "Unfortunately", he said, "바카라사이트 protesters are behaving rudely and not trying to understand what 바카라사이트 government is doing".