Moldovan President Hails Soviet Past

"February 02, 2009 CHISINAU -- In a speech devoted to the 650th anniversary of the first Moldovan state, President Vladimir Voronin glorified the country’s Soviet history and lashed out at pro-Romanian Moldovans, saying they refuse to “grow up.”It wasn’t until the country joined the Soviet Union in 1940 that Moldova evolved from a “rural province” of Romania into a modern state with a vibrant culture and economy, he said.Moldova was part of Romania until it was annexed by the Soviets through the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact.Moldova was established as an independent country after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.Three broadly pro-Romanian political parties will run in April’s general elections, but they are unlikely to beat Voronin's pro-Russian Communists, who lead in the polls."