The people live longer and this is true about the Moldovans as well. Currently, there are over 520,000 persons older than 60 in the country and, according to the estimates of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), this figure is expected to rise, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a news conference on October 1, held on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons, UNFPA Deputy Representative Boris Gilca said that aging is a triumph of the development and technical-scientific progress. It should not be regarded as a burden or an economic or social problem. Involvement and levers are needed to use aging for the sustainable development of the country. In 1960, the people older than 60 totaled about 205 million worldwide. In 2012, this figure rose to over 810 million and is forecast to increase to over 2 billion by 2050. Boris Gilca stressed yet that aging is also the greatest challenge of the 21st century and the rise in the aging percentage will require advanced social services. Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga told the same news conference that the elderly persons in Moldova represent 14.3% of the population. As the population is aging, the burden of the social budget and the health budget increases. There is a necessity to provide new social services. In order to cope with all the problems, the illegal payment of salaries should be eliminated as it significantly prejudices the state budget. Speaker Marian Lupu and Prime Minister Vlad Filat, who delivered congratulation messages on the International Day of Older Persons, assured that the authorities will make effort to guarantee the welfare of this group of people. The decision to observe the International Day of Older Persons on October 1 was taken in October 1990 during the 45th session of the UN General Assembly. In Moldova, this day has been marked since 1992.