CHISINAU, March 1, 2012 — The Dniester War is a tragic moment in the history of our nation and we should remember those who sacrificed their lives for our national ideals, Defense Minister Vitalie Marinuta stated during the Scientific Conference “20 years since the beginning of the Dniester War for Independence of the Republic of Moldova (1992)”, held Thursday, March 1, at the Center of Military History and Culture.

The event, organized by the Ministry of Defense in common with the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, brought together academicians, famous historians and participants in the tragic Dniester events.

The participants in the meeting made a review of the premises, content and consequences of the war for defending the independence and integrity of the Republic of Moldova. The discussions focused on the idea that all the actions carried out over the past 20 years were meant to honor those who suffered because of war and reveal the truth of the tragic events of those times.

Despite all the rumors, the Dniester War was based neither on ethnic, nor on religious reasons. Thus, we should not associate it with other conflicts held in the ex-Soviet area, Mariana Slapac, Deputy President of the Academy of Sciences, stated.

The conference also depicted the diplomatic and the war-based issues of the topic presented by Anatol Taranu, Institute of History, State and Law, and Andrei Covrig, Association of Humanitarian Law of the Republic of Moldova.

Nearly 29 thousand people took part in the 1992 Dniester War. 286 of them died, including 198 National Army servicemen and 89 men from the Ministry of Internal Affairs structures, and 284 are now 1st, 2nd and 3rd group invalids.