Moldova marks 36 years since return to Latin script on Romanian Language Day
The Republic of Moldova has marked Romanian Language Day with messages of congratulations from the European Union (EU) and Ukraine.
The EU Delegation to Chișinău praised the language in a message that described it as "the voice of longing, of our mothers, and of our people." It added that Romanian is more than just words within the "great European family," calling it "identity, memory, and a covenant."
In a separate Facebook post, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Moldova congratulated its "Moldovan friends" on the occasion.
The day is a celebration of the country’s return to the Latin script in 1989, a key victory in the National Liberation Movement that advocated for independence, freedom, and national values. It was officially established during the National Revival Movement, a wave of political initiatives that promoted Romanian language and culture. On August 31, 1989, the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR adopted laws that consecrated the Romanian language as the state language, while also recognising the Latin alphabet. This move was seen as a symbolic victory in the fight to reassert Moldovan identity.
The occasion is also celebrated in neighbouring Romania, where the event was first marked in 2011 and has since become an annual occurrence in various cities.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
