National Army Day marks the founding by presidential decree on September 3, 1991, of a military institution designed to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova. Thirty-four years ago, the country’s first president, Mircea Snegur, decreed the creation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova, in accordance with the Declaration of Independence.
A first formulation of the country’s military idea can be found in the resolution adopted by the Parliament on September 4, 1990 “On the military service of citizens of the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic”. The text of the resolution stated that the dissatisfaction of the population with military service in the Soviet Army is one of the main factors destabilizing the social-political situation in the republic. The participation of young Moldovans in conflicts in other regions of the USSR often led to loss of life. An alternative was needed – the formation of a national army with military service on the territory of the country.
On the basis of that decision and the Government decision of September 12, 1990, the Department for Military Affairs and State Security was established, charged with the development of military-territorial structures. Its work began in the context of tensions in the south and east of the republic. More and more professional Moldovan military professionals began to return to their homeland and were assigned to the new structures, gradually replacing the existing personnel in the units stationed in Moldova, mainly Russians, Ukrainians and other ethnic groups.
On August 27, 1991, the Parliament in Chisinau adopted the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming the Republic of Moldova a sovereign, independent and democratic state, free to decide its own destiny without external influence. An essential factor in maintaining the sovereignty and independence of a state is the military structure, created to protect the country against threats from within and without. With these considerations in mind, on September 3, 1991, the first President of the Republic of Moldova, Mircea Snegur, issued the decree creating the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova.
The Government has been entrusted to develop the concept and concrete measures for the financing and foundation of the technical and material base of the Armed Forces, as well as to supplement it with military officers and officers.
The first months of 1992 were crucial for the formation of the National Army. On January 10, the first draft of the military doctrine was presented, and on February 5, by presidential decree, the leading body of the National Army – the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova – was created.
In the spring of 1992, the National Army was still in the formation phase. After the Nistru conflict, efforts were focused on strengthening military structures, which were put to the test by various challenges, overcome by organizing responsible and efficient institutions.
An essential element of the Republic of Moldova’s military policy is to join and participate in programs to strengthen relations with the UN, OSCE, NATO and other organizations. In 2015 the Law on Moldova’s participation in international missions and operations was enacted. Contingents of the national military forces have been and continue to be involved in international missions under the aegis of the OSCE in the Chechen Republic, Kosovo, Macedonia, under the aegis of NATO in the multinational forces in Iraq, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in UN missions in Liberia, Sudan, Georgia and the Central African Republic.