Moldova marks 33rd anniversary of adoption of Declaration of Sovereignty

Chisinau, 23 June /MOLDPRES/ - The Republic of Moldova today marks the 33rd  anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Sovereignty. The document was voted by the Supreme Soviet (parliament) of the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic (RSSM) on 23 June 1990.

According to historians, the declaration was adopted in a complex historical context, marked by a parade of sovereignties – a process which involved the entire Soviet space. Estonia was the first country of the former USSR to declare its sovereignty in November 1988, followed by Lithuania in April 1989 and Latvia in July 1989. Meanwhile, Lithuania declared its independence on 11 March 1990. The Declaration of Sovereignty of RSSM was preceded also by the one of Georgia on 26 May 1990 and Russia on 12 June 1990.   

The adoption of the Declaration of Sovereignty was the first important victory of the democratic forces in the fight for revival and national liberation. Thus, the Declaration of Sovereignty stipulates that the sovereignty of RSS Moldova is the only and needed condition of the existence of Moldova’s statehood. The declaration states the supremacy of the laws of RSS Moldova over the union ones, the citizenship is established and the sovereign right is envisaged, in order to have diplomatic relations with all countries.    

At the same time, the document stipulates the unitary and indivisible character of the state. The Declaration sees that RSS Moldova observes the status of the United Nations and expresses its adhesion to the principles of this organization, declares itself a demilitarized zone, actively promotes the consolidation of peace and security, is directly involved in the process of cooperation and security, as well as in the European structures.  

At the same time, the Declaration reads that ‘’the land, subsoil, waters, forests and other natural resources on the territory of RSS Moldova, as well as the entire economic, financial, technical, scientific potential, the values of the national heritage’’ are declared ‘’exclusive unconditional property of RSS Moldova.’’     

In the end, the Article 13 of the document stipulates that ‘’the present Declaration serves as basis for the working out of the Constitution of RSS Moldova, improvement of the republican legislation and as position of RSS Moldova for the preparation and conclusion of the union treaty within the commonwealth of independent states.’’

The Declaration of Sovereignty was voted with one abstention.

On 23 June 1991, on the day of the first anniversary of the proclamation of Moldova’s sovereignty, the first series of post stamps, showing the attributes of the statehood – Coat of Arms and Flag, was put into circulation.