Romanian Language Day Marked for First Time in Ukraine

Representatives of Romanian authorities, Romanian diplomacy in Ukraine, and the Romanian community in the Chernivtsi region laid wreaths at the statues of Taras Shevchenko and Mihai Eminescu in the city center, according to Agerpres. Candles were also lit at the Heroes' Memorial in Chernivtsi's Central Square. The event was attended by Romania's Ambassador to Kyiv, Victor Micula; Romania's Consul General in Chernivtsi, Irina Loredana Stănculescu; State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Diana Băciuna; President of the Iași County Council, Costel Alexe; the military governor of the Chernivtsi region, Ruslan Osipenko; and the president of the Chernivtsi District Council, Mykola Guitor.

Later, Romanian officials met with leaders of the Romanian community at the National Palace. "We are witnessing a historic moment, because for the first time in our history, Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine are celebrating Romanian Language Day on the same day. And I am glad to see the reaction that President Zelensky's decree from March has generated among the authorities in Ukraine, said Ambassador Victor Micula.

State Secretary Diana Băciuna praised the declaration of August 31 as Romanian Language Day. The government official thanked Romanians in Ukraine for preserving and promoting the Romanian language. "I want to thank all the parents who passed the Romanian language on to their children, all the artists who sing in it, all the writers who express their thoughts using Romanian, all the journalists, all those who managed to pass it on from father to son, from mother to daughter.

It is the merit of all members of the community in Ukraine that they preserved the Romanian language, said Diana Băciuna. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the decree in March establishing Romanian Language Day in Ukraine. In order to develop mutual understanding, mutual respect, and cooperation in Ukrainian-Romanian relations, encouraging intercultural dialogue, considering the preservation of identity and developing the linguistic and cultural identity of Ukrainian citizens, I decree: Romanian Language Day is established in Ukraine, to be celebrated annually on August 31, the decree signed by Zelensky stated. The event marked a historic first for the Romanian community in Ukraine.