Mandatory Study Of The Russian Language To Be Introduced In Moldova From 2002

Moldavian minister of education Ilie Vancea considers it the right decision to resume from 2002 teaching of the Russian language as a mandatory subject in Moldavian schools. Ilie Vancea stated: "The Russian language is one of the world languages. This is the language spoken by one third of the population of the Republic of Moldova". Two hours a week of the Russian language studies are to be introduced from second grade. Meanwhile the Romanian Foreign Ministry expressed its concern regarding the introduction of the Russian language studies in Moldavian schools. The Romanian Foreign Ministry's statement says, in particular, that the decision taken by the Moldavian ministry of education is aimed at creating preferential conditions for the language of one of the national minorities. In the opinion of the Romanian foreign Ministry, this might damage development and application in Moldova of "the state Romanian language". The Moldavian Foreign Ministry took into consideration the position of the Romanian Foreign Ministry. The Foreign policy department of Moldova diplomatically indicated that "Romanian reaction to processes undertaken in Moldova might be explained by the fact that Romanian authorities were interested in preservation of stability in the neighbouring state including the area of relations between nationalities". It were those motives which Chisinau was guided by in an attempt to find an adequate solution which would allow to maintain international harmony which meant public peace and unity in the republic.