Three new honorific titles instituted

The Parliament Thursday decided to institute three new honorific titles: “People’s Artist”, “Emeritus Artist” and “Emeritus Group”, Info-Prim Neo reports. Also, the honorific titles have been hierarchically classified according to the level of importance. The legislative initiative for amending the Law on Moldova’s State Awards of 1992 was put forward by President Vladimir Voronin. The head of state argued that the present system of awards does not provide sufficient possibilities for morally stimulating the personalities that contribute to creating cultural and artistic values. Under the current system of awards, the artists can receive the title of ”Emeritus”, not yet “of People’s”. Also, there is no specific honorific title for artistic groups. The amended version of the Law on State Awards stipulates the following hierarchy of the honorific titles: “People’s Artist”, “Master of Arts”, “Master of Literature”, “Emeritus Person”, “Emeritus Artist”, “Artisan”, and “Emeritus Artistic Group”. The insignias for the titles of “People’s Artist” and “Emeritus Artist” will represent an Ionic column, a lyre, a theater mask and a laurel branch. There will be no insignia for the honorific title of “Emeritus Group”. The insignia are made from tombak and represent a circle 25 mm in diameter. The symbols of the honorific titles are shaped in relief in the center of the circle.