A number of commemoration activities will be staged in Chisinau in 2012, when it will be 200 years of the signing of the Peace Treaty of Bucharest (May 16/28, 1812). The activities, among which an international scientific conference, are prepared by the initiative group “Anul 1812” (“Year 1812”) that was set up this May. The group includes famous historians, jurists and journalists, Info-Prim Neo reports. “This sad date in our history marked out destiny, changed the course of the Romanians living on the left bank of the Prut and separated us from the area of European and Romanian values,” Doctor Habilitate of History Alexandru Mosanu, the Head of the first Parliament of Moldova, said in a news conference on June 14. According to the historian, the consequences of the 1812 event are directly connected with the present. “This past does not allow us to hold the activities in accordance with Moldova's Declaration of Independence and all the documents that were adopted,” said Alexandru Mosanu. Vice president of the Association of Historians of Moldova Ion Negrei, researcher of the Institute of History, State and Law, said that they should tell the truth now in Moldova about what happened in 1812. “We are a component of civil society and warn that something is not right. We intend to hold public debates on the most important topics of the state, including Moldova's independence, the identity crisis, the interethnic relations, the European destiny and others,” said Ion Negrei. He stressed that the public debates will help realize the situation of Moldova and easier solve the economic, political, social and cultural problems. Constantin Tanase, director of the daily “Timpul de dimineata”, said that the 1812 event changed history. “The inability to transform Moldova into an efficient state and reach new standards during 20 years shows that we are going in the wrong direction,” he stated. According to him, the tragedy in Moldova started in 1812. “I sometimes have a feeling of pain when I see that some people are ashamed to speak about Romania 20 years after the declaration of independence,” said Constantin Tanase. The president of the Association of Historians, Doctor of History Gheorghe Negru said a part of society does not realize the tragedy experienced by the Moldovan people and the crimes committed by the totalitarian Communist regime. “The politicians and teachers should make concerted effort to convey messages to the people so that they know that we cannot build a modern and civilized society if we do not know the truth,” he said. Scientific researcher Mihai Tasca said the Declaration of the initiative group “Anul 1812” was signed by a lot of personalities. “This group received many message of support,” he stated. A general assembly will be held on June 25 to discuss the activities that the initiative group prepares for the whole year. There will be also created the Movement “Anul 1812”. Under the Treaty of Bucharest between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire, the eastern part of the Principality of Moldova, between the Prut and Nistru Rivers, was ceded by the Ottomona Empire to Russia. That territory included Hotin, Soroca, Orhei, Lapusna, Greceni, Hotarniceni, Codru, Tighina, Carligatura, Falciu, Bugeac and the eastern part of Iasi. The Tsarist authorities in 1813 named the occupied region Bessarabia.