For the first time, the Romanian Language Day was marked on August 31 simultaneously in Chisinau and in Bucharest, Info-Prim Neo reports. In Chisinau, officials laid flowers at the Monument to Stephan the Great and at writers’ busts on the Alley of Classical Writers. There was unveiled a new bust – of poet Adrian Paunescu. It was made by sculptor Romi Adam from Alba Iulia. “The names of those who fought for our national ideal will remain in our memory forever. They include Ion and Doina Aldea- Teodorovici, Grigore Vieru, Nicolae Costin, Gheorghe Ghimpu, Ion Dumeniuc, Lidia Istrati, Ion Vatamanu and many others who put the national interest above the personal interest. Speaking correctly the official language is the duty of honor of each of us, regardless of the ethnic origin. The fight for instating the Romanian language continues two decades after proclaiming it as official language. Children living on the left bank of the Nistru travel tens of kilometers daily in order to study in the Romanian language. It is an example worth following,” Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca said during the events staged in Chisinau’s central garden. The 20th International Book Show was opened at the National Library. The program of the event includes fair-exhibitions, book launches, roundtable meetings, workshops, conferences and other activities aimed at popularizing written culture. The exhibit was organized in partnership with the Chisinau-based Romanian Cultural Institute “Mihai Eminescu” and will last until September 3. The bilingual Romanian-German book “Grigore Vieru. The most beautiful poems”, which was translated by Ion Margineanu, was launched at the Romanian Language House “Nichita Stanescu”. Folk and pop music singers gave a concert in the Great National Assembly Square in Chisinau. The evening ended with a recital by the Romanian singer Stefan Banica Jr. In Bucharest, the Romanian Cultural Institute, through the Romanians from Outside the Country Division, in partnership with the Civic Platform “Actiunea 2012”, organized a concert involving a number of bands and singers in the University Square of Bucharest. Moldova returned to the Romanian language and the Latin script on August 31, 1989, following the Great National Assembly of August 27.