President Nicolae Timofti handed over awards to a group of people. In gratitude for special merits before the state, for long and prodigious work and for high professionalism, the Order of the Republic, which is the highest state award, was conferred on writer Mihail Cibotaru and president of the Moldovan Football Federation Pavel Cebanu, IPN reports.

In gratitude for contribution to promoting reforms based on the European standards and values, for special merits in ensuring the negotiation, signing and ratification of the Association Agreement between Moldova and the EU and for contribution to obtaining a liberalized visa regime with the EU and Schengen member states, the Order of Honor was awarded to Head of Parliament Andrian Candu, ex-Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, and to ex-minister of health Andrei Usatyi.

The Order of Honor was given to the executive director of the Millennium Challenge Account Moldova Valentina Badrajan, writer Teodor Chiriac, MP and ex-minister of regional development and construction Marcel Raducan.

The order Labor Glory was conferred on the scientific secretary of the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History Varvara Buzila, writer Grigore Chiper, division head at the National Children’s Library “Ion Creanga” Claudia Gurschi, executive vice director of the Millennium Challenge Account Moldova Igor Perjan, and writers Nicolae Spataru and Titus Stirbu.

The medal Civic Merit was given to the vice director of the National Children’s Library “Ion Creanga” Eugenia Bejan, manager of the band “Mostenitorii” Valentin Chiper, vice director of the National Children’s Library “Ion Creanga” Lilia Tcaci, deputy editor-in-chief of the journal “Medical Currier” Boris Topor, and others.

The honorific title of People’s Artist was conferred on the soloist of the National Opera House “Maria Biesu” Iurie Gasca, director of the State Russian Dramatic Theater “A.P. Chekhov” Constantin Haret, and member of the Union of Plastic Artists and of the Theater Union Iurie Matei. The honorific title of Master of Art was awarded to the manager of the Brass Band Orchestra of Zaicani village of Rascani district Ion Rotaru, director of the Academic Lyceum of Plastic Arts “Igor Vieru” Nicoleta Stati, and editor of the National Public Broadcaster “Teleradio-Moldova Natalia Vasilcau.

The honorific title of Emeritus Person was conferred on the bishop of the Cathedral “Saint Teodora de la Sihla” Ioan Ciuntu, professor of the State University of Medicine and Pharmacology “Nicolae Testemitanu Ion Munteanu, and president of the Audit Office Serafim Urechean.

The honorific title of Emeritus Artist was given to actress of the Epical Theater of Ethnography and Folklore “Ion Creanga” Angela Caraus, actor of the State Russian Dramatic Theater “A.P. Chekhov” Dumitru Coev, actress of the Epical Theater of Ethnography and Folklore “Ion Creanga” Ioana Donos, actor of the National Theater “Mihai Eminescu” Ghenadie Galca, actress of the National Theater “Mihai Eminescu” Diana Onica, and actress of the State Russian Dramatic Theater “A.P. Chekhov”Marina Srashok.