Moldovan and Romanian historians came together at a round table meeting in Chisinau to discuss the importance of the Union of the Romanian Principates of January 24, 1859 and to launch two historical books about Panteleimon Halippa, who was the promoter of the Romanian unity and the head of the Country's Council in1918, Info-Prim Neo reports. Moldovan historian Ion Varta said that important event for the Romanian nation was presented in gloomy colors in the Romanian historiography, with some exceptions. “The Communist historiography is hostile towards this subject and tried to give a distorted picture of the Union of 1859 even if the Russians were in favor of the union at that time, as we know,” Varta said. Ion Constantin, historian from Bucharest, said a possible union of Romania with Moldova should not be regarded as a goal as the opponents of such an idea profit from this. “The union can take place in a broad European context if Moldova becomes part of the EU,” he said. Two books about Bessarabian politician and man of culture Panteleimon Halippa were launched during the event. The first book is “Panteleimon Halippa – Tribune of Bessarabia” written by historian and Deputy Prime Minister of Moldova Ion Negrei and Ion Constantin, while the second is a monograph titled “Panteleimon Halippa, Fearless for Bessarabia” written by Ion Constantin. The authors say Panteleimon Haliippa was one of the promoters of idea of national unity that was supported by Alexandru Ioan Cuza in 1859. “There is a direct connection between the union event celebrated on January 24 and the event of January 24, 1918, when Panteleimon Halippa and many others proclaimed the independence of the Moldovan Autonomous Republic,” Ion Constantin said. Moldova's deputy prime minister Ion Negrei, the co-author of the book, says it is based on a study about Panteleimon Halippa, and its second part is based on a set of documents about the life and work of the prominent politician. “Until recently the name of Panteleimon Halippa was mentioned more in a negative way, and by presenting this collection of documents we intend to show the true value of this personality for the history of our nation”, said Ion Negrei. The launching of the books is part of a project of the Research Center for Romanians Everywhere of the Bucharest Metropolitan Library, which involves historians from Chisinau and Bucharest. In the following years, tge historians intend to publish studies about other Bessarabian prominent figures, such as Ion Pelivan, Nichita Smochina, Onisifor Ghibu, Ion Inculet, Constantin Stere