On the International Friendship Day on July 30, 2018, President of the Republic of Moldova Igor Dodon took part in the inauguration of the monument of friendship between the Russian Emperor Peter the Great and Moldovan prince Dmitry Cantemir in Volgodonsk, Rostov Region, the Russian Federation.

The event was organized on the initiative of the Union of Friendship of Russia and Moldova and Oleg Pakholkov, State Duma deputy.

“It is a great honor for me that the leadership of Volgodonsk and the government of the Rostov region agreed to hold this event today. I am sure that this is a historic event! Surely you know that today is the international day of friendship, and we are opening the monument of “Friendship” today.

The bilateral relations between Russia and Moldova are very much discussed. 600-700 thousand of our citizens are permanently on the territory of the Russian Federation. And here in Russia they feel at home. They are accepted, considered to be relatives. And we understand each other very well and have been very supportive for many centuries, we are friends, we live together. People who are trying to destroy this will not succeed.

Moldova, as a friendly state for Russia, and Russia, as a friendly state for Moldova – were, is and will be. And the fact that today I am here as the President of the Republic of Moldova and open this monument, which is unique – in Moldova there is no monument to Dmitry Cantemir and Peter the Great. In Russia it is also the first such monument.

There has always been a special relationship between our countries. We have a common religion – Christian Orthodox. We have many victories and a common history. We have a common Dmitry Cantemir, who was the ruler of Moldova, and was the first adviser to Emperor Peter I. His son Antioch Cantemir was the first ambassador of the Russian Empire in England. We have a common Victory in the Great Patriotic War. By the way, every year on May 9 there is a march of victory headed by the President. This year more than 100 thousand people gathered on it.

We have a common present, 85% of Moldova’s agro-industrial complex is exported to the markets of the Russian Federation. And I am sure that our common past and present creates a good foundation for a common future. Moldova this year received, thanks to the support of your President, Vladimir Putin, the status of an observer of the Eurasian Economic Commission – EurAsEC.

I am sure that this friendship, this brotherhood between our peoples is forever. I want to thank you on behalf of the Moldovan people for accepting us here. In your city, I’m for the third time. And two years ago there was such an idea, to put a monument. Oleg Pakholkov, the initiator of the erection of the monument and the Mayor of Volgodonsk, Victor Melnikov, did not think that I personally would come to open the monument.

I said that without me it would not be right. Be sure, Moldova will always remember about the people of Russia and will always be friends with Russia”, Moldovan President Igor Dodon said.

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