President Iohannis at the national flag offering ceremony at the Seat Fortress of Suceava : Greater Union, not deserved inheritance or well-deserved gift of history

President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday in Suceava that the Greater Union should not be regarded as a “deserved inheritance or a well-deserved gift of history ,” showing that Romanians should contribute to the project of an advancing Romania. “Romania has been thought by the makers of the Greater Union as a national project of cohesion, of a state committed to contributing substantially to an international environment of peace, an area in which all are equal before the law. Iancu Flondor’s words are from this perspective an emotional reminder over time: ?The future of our country and nation is closely related to law and legality, and the centuries-old dream of a united prosperous and powerful Romania is only achievable in this way.’ In the spirit of the historical decisions of 100 years ago, I’m inviting you to see the Greater Union not as a deserved inheritance or as a well-deserved gift of history. Moving on to the second centenary of our common modernity should be a matter of taking up a great responsibility, truly honouring our great forefathers, contributing in turn to the project of a Romania that advances through European values and aspirations, a fair homeland for all its citizens, without discrimination or exceptions, a country worthy of its great potential, living up to the aspirations of great generations,” Iohannis told the national flag offering ceremony at the Seat Fortress of Suceava. He emphasised the significance of Suceava’s Seat Fortress. “The Seat Fortress of Suceava is not just a backstage, it is not just a historical monument. Today, for one day, the Seat Fortress of Suceava is the centre of Romania (…) On the anniversary of the centennial of the Romanian National Council of Bukovina, the body that prepared and made the union of Bukovina with Romania, I am leaving here the flag of Romania, a national flag, as a symbol and message of unity and presence in this centuries-old royal court,” said Iohannis. According to the president, the flag, established in the revolutionary year 1848, was “the expression of the maturity of national consciousness, and its motto ‘Justice and Brotherhood’ proves that the Romanian nation has taken up the Western humanist values from its beginnings.” “Today’s Romania is the fruit of a process of European modernisation that started 170 years ago as a political project of the elites of that time. The Great War validated this project by the sacrifices of the people of Basarabia, Bukovina, Transylvania, Dobrogea, Wallachia, Oltenia and Moldavia. This project found its democratic consecration in the assemblies of Chisinau, Cernauti and Alba Iulia on March 27, November 28, and December 1, 1918. Its result, the Greater Union Romania, was recognised under the post-war peace treaties,” said Iohannis . Also on Wednesday, Iohannis laid a wreath at the bust of the great local politician Iancu Flondor and visited the Bukovina Museum in Suceava.   “Romanians ask dignitaries to rise to high moral standards”   President Klaus Iohannis stated on Wednesday in Suceava that Romanians ask the dignitaries to match the same high moral standards as the politicians who accomplished the Greater Union, and saluted those who work for a united Romania, while respecting democracy. “We are now in a place that has never been conquered – the Seat Fortress. This is a symbol of the capability and determination of the Romanians, locals, who defended for generations what they held most precious, most important – justice, national identity, their rights as free people. As you may already know, I come from a citadel that couldn’t be conquered for centuries, for the liberty and prosperity of communities was always rather based on the citizens’ liberty, on the honour of the leaders and the integrity of the magistrates than on how thick the fortifications walls were. Today, Romanians ask the dignitaries of this country to rise to the same high moral standards. We are together united as we were 100 years ago, determined to defend the project of society that we have been building for almost three decades, a society without walls, open, united in its respect for democracy, a true seat fortress of liberty and human rights, functioning under the rule of law to everyone’s benefit. I salute those who are working for a Romania like this and I feel deeply solidary with them!” said Iohannis at the offering the National Flag of Romania ceremony held at the Suceava Citadel of the Throne. He underscored that the “Greater Union” of 1918 is not an “event only for the history manuals, but one that must be from time to time evoked publicly.” “The profound message of the Centennial Year is that we must never abandon the projects that truly unite us in a strong nation and a developed and modern country. From the infrastructure linking Moldavia with the rest of the country and Europe, up to ensuring a high level of education, health and job creation, all these actually mean a concern for Romanians to live better in their country. For such a Romania, of which Bukovina and Suceava municipality are proudly part of, we have the responsibility to work together,” underscored the head of the state.