Scientific conference “9 MAY: Remembrance, Reconciliation and European Unity.” held in Moldova; head of state says European future of Moldova means assuming the past, choosing truth over propaganda

Over 1,200 history teachers from across the country, ambassadors and the top leadership of the state have taken part in the national scientific conference, 9 May – Remembrance, Reconciliation and European Unity. President Moldova Maia Sandu addressed the participants and reiterated that the European future of Moldova means assuming the past, just as it means choosing truth over propaganda.

The event was opened by the Education and Research Minister Dan Perciun, who emphasized that, after independence, history teachers and researchers had had a fundamental mission in shaping the civic and national consciousness of young people.

“The role of those who teach history and civic education is essential for our democratic resilience and for defending fundamental human values,” Perciun said.

The minister highlighted the contribution of teachers in explaining the difference between history and propaganda, between patriotism and hatred, as well as in protecting historical memory in a context marked by disinformation.

He pointed out that patriotic education must be understood as the formation of responsible citizens, not as the promotion of slogans.

“Healthy patriotism is a patriotism of responsibility, based on respect for the country, language, culture and on openness towards a shared European future,” the minister said.

In his speech, Dan Perciun underlined that European integration is, in essence, a choice of values.

“European integration is not just an economic or security project, but a fundamental choice between freedom, democracy and respect for each citizen,” he said.

The official described the European Union as a project of peace and reconciliation, built on the tragic lessons of the 20th century. He said that the European path of Moldova is “a natural return to a space of values.”

President Maia Sandu stressed the importance of assuming the past and historical truth in building the country’s European future.

“The European future of Moldova means assuming the past, just as it means choosing truth over propaganda. Only in this way will we be able to build a society that does not allow fear, lies and division to decide the fate of its citizens,” the head of state stressed.

Maia Sandu emphasized that society cannot move forward without an honest relationship with history and without rejecting the manipulation of the past:

“We cannot build a mature democratic society without a culture of memory based on facts.”

The head of state also spoke about the significance of 9 May, noting that it must be viewed through the lens of reconciliation and historical responsibility:

“We cannot tolerate the overlapping of remembrance of the victims of war with the glorification of totalitarian regimes. Yes, 9 May is Victory Day, and the sacrifice of those who fought and died in the Second World War must be respected and commemorated with dignity. But history did not stop in 1945. For us, it was followed by the establishment of a regime that brought deportations, organized famine, repression, fear and the systematic attempt to suppress our national identity. Therefore, we cannot tolerate the overlapping of remembrance of the victims of war with the glorification of the Soviet regime. At the same time, it is important to understand that there is no contradiction between the idea of honoring Victory Day and celebrating Europe. On the contrary, the European project was born precisely from the devastating lesson of war and totalitarianism, from the conviction that peace and freedom must replace hatred and imperialism. A united Europe is the result of a reconstruction that was first and foremost moral, based on respect for human dignity. Yet, we all know: when we asserted our desire to live according to the same principles, when we claimed our right to decide our own future, we were forced, in 1992, to defend our country with weapons in hand. Even if weapons are silent today on the territory of Moldova, we are facing another form of aggression — cognitive warfare, which also targets the past and seeks, by manipulating it, to control our present and future. Those who insist on an exclusively Moscow-centered interpretation of 9 May are trying to falsify not only what happened in 1945, but everything that followed. Just as Russian propaganda today seeks to justify the war of aggression against Ukraine by denying the identity of a people and by the abusive use of history. Reconciliation cannot be built on moral and historical ambiguity. We cannot mix truth with lies; we cannot equate victims and aggressors. Authentic reconciliation is built on truthfulness, on the recognition of suffering, on clear-sightedness about the past and on turning memory into a warning for the future.”

At the same time, the president highlighted the role of education in defending democracy and in passing on historical memory to new generations, stressing that the truth about the past is essential for the resilience of society.

The event was also attended by Ambassador of the European Union Iwona Piorko.

“Europe Day is not just a symbolic celebration. It is the expression of a fundamental choice made by European states after two devastating wars: the choice of peace, unity and freedom. It is the result of a painful historical lesson, from which Europe understood that only cooperation and solidarity can prevent the repetition of the tragedies of the past.”

She reiterated that Europe Day is not only about the past, but above all about responsibility for the future:

“Moldova has chosen a European path — a future anchored in peace, opportunities and democratic freedoms, as part of the European Union. Let us use this day not only for remembrance, but also for reaffirming the principles that define us. Let us honor memory without allowing it to be manipulated. Let us reject propaganda without giving up dialogue. And let us continue, together, to build a European future for our country.”

The ambassadors of Romania and Ukraine also delivered speeches at the event.

According to the Education and Research Ministry, the scientific conference, 9 MAY: Remembrance, Reconciliation and European Unity, brings to the forefront a reflection on memory, historical truth, reconciliation and the belonging of Moldova to the space of European values.