16 December 2009 - The United Nations Country Team in Moldova expresses its profound regret at the public expression of religious intolerance taking place in the centre of Chisinau on Sunday. We welcome the prompt expressions of condemnation by a number of official agencies.

In the early afternoon of December 13, an assembled group of Orthodox Christians, under the leadership of priests, dismantled the Chanukah Menorah on Europe Square, transported it to Stefan the Great Square, and dumped it unceremoniously upside-down at the base of the Stefan the Great Square. Priests present at the protest were shown on television making explicitly anti-Semitic statements. No police or other forces of public order intervened to stop the action.

Moldovas international human rights commitments require that it stop acts of incitement to ethnic and religious hatred. It also requires that perpetrators of such acts be brought to justice.

Beyond these formal legal requirements, all Moldovans have an interest in the promotion of a vibrant culture of respect for difference. Moldova aspires to a democratic, European future. Acts of incitement to religious intolerance are inconsistent with these aspirations.

Between Sunday, December 13, and Monday, December 14, a number of official bodies condemned these acts. Offices issuing statements condemning the events include the President, Government, the Municipality of Chisinau, the Moldovan Centre for Human Rights, and a number of political parties. We welcome these expressions of leadership in a multi-cultural society.

We hope that the next days offer occasion for vigorous re-affirmation by all of the value of diversity in Moldovan society. We also hope that the perpetrators of crimes are brought to justice, and that public order policies to prevent such acts are reviewed and improved.