“OLVIA-PRESS”

DNIESTRIA: THE DAY OF REPUBLIC.

On September 2^nd 2002, the Dniester Moldavian Republic celebrates its 12^th anniversary. For participation in festivities, devoted to this date, in Dniestria there arrived deputies of the Russian Federation State Duma, and the Ukrainian Supreme Rada, delegations from Belarus, the Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, Southern Ossetia, and many others.

Over fifty journalists representing the major mass media of the CIS countries and far abroad arrived for elucidation of the festivities.

In honor of the republic’s birthday, festivities were held in all towns and districts of the republic. In the capital of our state, Tiraspol, festivities started with a grating litany in the Christmas Cathedral. At 9 AM, at the Memorial of Glory, the head of the state – the President of the Dniester Moldavian Republic Igor Smirnov, the DMR Supreme Council Chairman Grigory Marakutsa, members of the Ministers’ Cabinet, higher-standing foreign guests, and representatives of the public laid flowers to tombs of defenders, martyred during the aggression of Moldova in 1992, and honored their memory with a minute of science. Parade of military formations of Tiraspol garrison, devoted to the 12^th anniversary of foundation of the Republic, began with rising of the DMR state flag.

In his report devoted to this noteworthy date, the DMR minister of defense Stanislav Khazheev remarked that the DMR Armed Forces is a full-fledged, battle-worthy army, able to defend its republic, to stand for honor and independence of people, living in the Dniestrian land. Now, despite of numerous difficulties of economic kind, suffered by our state, in the army there is held the work for perfecting of military readiness of the troops, professional proficiency of soldiers and officers is being improved.

- We are peaceful republic, peaceful people. But in case of aggression, the Dniestrian Armed Forces will be always able to stand honorably for freedom and independence of their young state, concluded the DMR Minister of defense.

The column of Armed Forces of the Dniester Moldavian Republic was moving along the tribune where the DMR highest authority was standing.

In the first column there is a group of officers of the DMR ministry of defense department; the colonel Popov, the deputy minister of defense, the head of military preparation department, awarded with order of Red Star and "For personal courage". The parade column of the first guards' motorized shooters' brigade, awarded with the order of Republic, under command of the Afghanistan war veteran colonel Tolstikov, awarded with the order "For serving the Motherland".

Future officers of the Dniestrian Armed Forces - students of the studying center of preparation of junior specialists, students of motorized shooters and artillery battery's studying centers - were moving along the tribune.

After them, there was moving the parade group of the first separate air force detachment, the column of artillery soldiers, and the antiaircraft-artillery regiment.

Through the square, there were moving the warriors of the first separate battalion of communication, the first engineers-sappers' battalion awarded with the order of Bogdan Hmelnitski, warriors of the Frontier Detachment of the DMR State security ministry, and the separate reserved Cossacks' regiment. After them, there were moving the warriors of the separate battalion of special purpose "Delta", parade groups of the MIA. For the first time, in parade there took place women-warriors of the DMR Armed Forces. At conclusion of the military parade, the DMR President I. Smirnov personally shook hands to these heroic women, paying tribute to their patriotism and courage, high civility.

It is worth mentioning the bright and unusual performance of the DMR ministry of defense brass band. It was the final accord of the whole military parade, which was quite emotional and major. There was performed a medley of different ethnic melodies, including Ukrainian and Moldavian, and even tango and can-can. The march "Farewell of a Slav Woman" finished the parade. It was simultaneously joyful, solemn, and festive.

The military parade was a prelude to a great festivity. Later on, natty Dniestrians together with higher guests from far and near abroad went on enjoying the holiday at prepared dance floors, in ethnic pavilions, and fairs full of local goods. Local producers from Rybnitsa, Dubossary, Slobodzeia, Grigoriopol, Bendery, and Kamenka pleased citizens of Tiraspol with their food and industrial commodities. By words of citizens of Tiraspol and guests of the capital, quality of Dniestrian goods is not worse and even is better than that in neighboring states.

By words of the guest from the Russian Federation, head of the program "The Russian Home" at the TV-channel Vladimir Krutov, "Dniestria is live, and bright example of successful existence for other peoples of the world, contrary to all obstacles". He also mentioned the specific atmosphere of the holiday: sincere spiritual rise and major mood, joy, and pride for their people. He wished peace, kindness, and prosperity to our people.

Another guest of our Republic - counselor of the President of Southern Ossetia Kosta Kochiev - expressed nearly the same feelings, "I have a great feeling from the holiday. The Day of Independence of Dniestria is also a holiday for Southern Ossetia. I wish peace, kindness, happiness, and welfare to each Dniestrian house".

The RF State Duma deputy Gheorghy Tikhonov shared his impressions, "Frankly speaking, I envy to Dniestrians. Nowadays, such holidays rarely occur in Russia; here the people sincerely and so enthusiastically celebrate the birthday of their Republic".

The concert program was also saturated. Numerous professional and amateur collectives of the republic were having performances at all concert stages of the town. But the main performance however took place at the central stadium. There, at 4 PM, the famous band "Verasy" from Byelorussia and the trio "Marenich" from Ukraine had performed for citizens and guests of Tiraspol.

At 9 PM, a solemn salute was made in honor of the day of republic. Cultural and mass actions in Dniestria were lasted till the dead of the night.

Happy birthday to you, Republic!