It gives me considerable pleasure as the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the Republic of Moldova to contribute in this way to a publication dedicated to the refugee issue in this country. Moldova is a young state, with a complex history, yet to complete a complex and often painful transformation process to re-establish democratic institutions based on the rule of law.

At first sight the refugee phenomenon for Moldova is relatively recent, but upon closer inspection, we realise how much the concept of asylum has played a role throughout its history. We also know that numerous individuals sought and received asylum even in the Soviet Union. At the same time, as this work documents, scores of Moldovans have in the past fled persecution and found a safe haven abroad.

History bears witness that since 1940 the number of those who were forced to flee from this territory became refugees, were deported or internally displaced could according to estimates reach a staggering 2.000.000 persons. The motivations for flight were varied, but there was always a common denominator: an individual at the mercy of circumstances beyond his/her control and dependent on the generosity of the receiving community. A refugee or someone displaced by armed conflict not only needs to have the possibility to leave, but above all, to be accepted, to be given a chance to start a new life, to be granted asylum.

As I write, persecution or armed actions unfortunately continue to generate often massive irregular flows, and pending the establishment of a national protection system, as is the case in Moldova, those who are forced into flight- address themselves to UNHCR for protection under its mandate.

I believe that humanitarian considerations, as well as contemporary human rights standards, compel us all. Governments, non-governmental organisations or citizens alike, to protect and assist persons who are persecuted in their country of origin. They are after all courageous individuals who refuse to submit to discrimination, inhuman or degrading treatment on religious, ethnic or political grounds, or solely for belonging to a particular social group.

The return to a democratic form of government after 1989 inter alia allowed that long hidden facts can now be studied and disclosed. Numerous statistics and documents still await systematic exploration, however, the contributors to this volume have made an admirable effort to gather data that can serve others to learn from the past- The stories captured give hope and prove-that refugees can, if given the opportunity, make a valuable contribution to mankind. I trust that the reader will be inspired and will reflect on the fate of the less fortunate whose lives were shattered or extinguished. This volume is in this sense also a testimony to all those who suffered the loneliness, the loss of relatives, of their homes and country and I therefore congratulate the Law Centre for this exceptional piece of work. I hope that the reader of "The Memory of a Refugee will appreciate its enormous spiritual value.

Oldrich Andrysek
Representative UNHCR Moldova
9 December 1999

Cuprins:

Argument pentru doua tari intr-o natiune si doua guverne intr-o tara

NEUITATA MEA BASARABIE

Eufrosinia A. Chersnovschi :O VIATA ZBUCIUMATA

Alexie Chistruga : SENSUL VIETII - DEMNITATEA

Andrei Ciurunga : MEANDRELE UNUI DESTIN

Eugen Coseriu : ITINERAR BIOGRAFIC

SAVANT ENCYCLOPEDIST
COLOSUL DIN TUBINGEN

Crigore Covac : PARISUL SI DABULENII

Anton Crihan : ULTIMUL SUPRAVIETUITOR

Nicolae Donici : INTELEPCIUNE SI INTOITIE

Tatiana Galusca : REFUGIATA IN PATRIE

Paul Goma : "... NOI AM FUGIT, NE-AM TOT REFUGIAT
SPRE APUS, ADICA IN SENSUL MERSULUI SOARELUL.."

Eugen Grebenicov : UN SAVANT DIN ELITA MONDIALA

Gheorghe Grigurcu : INTRE OGLINZI

Sergiu Grossu : FERICITA EXCEPTIE

Pantelimon Halippa : 0 ZI DE TOAMNA

Vasile Hodorogea : CAZNA UNEI ROSTUIRI

Eugen Holban : CARTI SCRISE IN REFUGIU

SINGURUL RAU ESTE STRAINATATEA

Stefan Holban : DESTINE BASARABENE

Nina Iaschinschi : POLEN RISIPIT PRIN ARHIVELE LUMII

Theodor Inculet : A FOST INFRATIT CU MODESTIA

Toma Istrati : CALE SI CALAUZA

MAGNET DE DOR

Alexandra Lungu : SUNT NASCUT IN LEAGANUL STRALUMINAT AL LIMBII ROMANE

Nicolae Lupan : "AICI RADIO CERNAUTI! AICI RADIO CHISINAU!"

Aurel Manolescu : TRECAND PESTE VAMI SI CUMPENE

Gheorghe Mare (STAICU)

Alexei Mare (STAICU), fiul lui Gheorghe Mare

Valeriu Mare (STAICU)

Paul Mihaila ; TRANSPLANTAREA BASARABIEI

Aleksandrov, Vladimir (Rug Vasile)

Valeriu Rusu :

ACASA SI IN LUME

CRAMPEIE DINTR-0 VIATA ZBUCIUMATA... (MEMORII)

MARTURISIREA MARIEI

PARINTELE VASILE TEPORDEI SI VENIREA NOASTRA ACASA

IERARHI SI PREOTI REFUGIATI AU MURIT CU GANDUL SI DORUL DE BASARABIA

AL NIMANUI

Gheorghe Viforeanu : DIN CUBOLTA