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Moldova's President Calls For 'Europeanization'


7 April 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Moldova's newly re-elected President Vladimir Voronin was sworn in for a second four-year term today.

Voronin, 63, said Moldova should embrace "Europeanization." He said recent pro-Western revolutions in two other ex-Soviet republics in the region, Ukraine and Georgia, have "blown air into the sails of Moldovan democracy."

Although Voronin is head of the Moldovan Communist Party, he has overseen a U-turn in the party's traditionally pro-Russian policies.

In his brief inauguration speech, Voronin said he intends to reunite the country, whose breakaway Transdniester region is ruled by a Moscow-backed separatist government.

Voronin promised economic development and a respect for human rights and political freedom in the impoverished country of 4.2 million people. (AFP/FLUX)

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