Editing Moldovan language (section)

=== Discontinuation in Moldova and Ukraine ===
On 2 March 2023, the Moldovan parliament voted to replace the phrases "Moldovan language", "state language" and "official language" in Moldovan legislation with the phrase "Romanian language". The change was presented not as a constitutional change, but only a technical one, as it would implement the 2013 decision of the Constitutional Court of Moldova. This change was supported by the ruling [[Party of Action and Solidarity]] and was strongly opposed by the [[Bloc of Communists and Socialists]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Video Îmbrânceli și scandal în Parlamentul de la Chișinău / "Limba moldovenească" dispare din toate legile Republicii Moldova |url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-26117106-video-imbranceli-scandal-parlamentul-chisinau-limba-moldoveneasca-dispare-din-toate-legile-republicii-moldova.htm |website=HotNews.ro |date=2 March 2023 |language=ro |access-date=2 March 2023 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302164012/https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-26117106-video-imbranceli-scandal-parlamentul-chisinau-limba-moldoveneasca-dispare-din-toate-legile-republicii-moldova.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 March 2023 |title=Decizie cu scântei: "limba moldovenească" va fi înlocuită cu "limba română" în legislație |url=https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/decizie-cu-sc%C3%A2ntei-limba-moldoveneasc%C4%83-va-fi-%C3%AEnlocuit%C4%83-cu-limba-rom%C3%A2n%C4%83-%C3%AEn-legisla%C8%9Bie-/32296458.html |website=Europa Liberăb Moldova |language=ro |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307174510/https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/decizie-cu-sc%C3%A2ntei-limba-moldoveneasc%C4%83-va-fi-%C3%AEnlocuit%C4%83-cu-limba-rom%C3%A2n%C4%83-%C3%AEn-legisla%C8%9Bie-/32296458.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Academy of Sciences of Moldova]] also supported this decision.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 February 2023 |title='Ar pune capăt infinitelor discuții inutile'. AȘM susține inițiativa deputaților PAS pentru substituirea în textul legilor R. Moldova a sintagmei 'limba moldovenească' cu sintagma 'limba română' |language=ro |work=Ziarul de Gardă |url=https://www.zdg.md/stiri/stiri-sociale/ar-pune-capat-infinitelor-discutii-inutile-asm-sustine-initiativa-deputatilor-pas-pentru-substituirea-in-textul-legilor-r-moldova-a-sintagmei-limba-moldoveneasca/ |access-date=2 March 2023 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302165046/https://www.zdg.md/stiri/stiri-sociale/ar-pune-capat-infinitelor-discutii-inutile-asm-sustine-initiativa-deputatilor-pas-pentru-substituirea-in-textul-legilor-r-moldova-a-sintagmei-limba-moldoveneasca/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The bill was approved on its second and final reading on 16 March.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=17 March 2023 |title=Moldovan Parliament Approves Final Reading of Romanian Language Bill |language=en |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-parliament-approves-final-reading-romanian-language-bill/32321571.html |access-date=2023-03-18 |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317223413/https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-parliament-approves-final-reading-romanian-language-bill/32321571.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 March 2023 |title=Sintagma "limba română" va fi introdusă în toate legile Republicii Moldova |url=https://www.moldpres.md/news/2023/03/16/23002127 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Moldpres |language=ro |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317090100/https://www.moldpres.md/news/2023/03/16/23002127 |url-status=live }}</ref> This attracted criticism from Russia. [[Maria Zakharova]], the spokeswoman for the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation]], claimed that "the Romanian language should be renamed to Moldovan, and not the opposite".<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 March 2023 |title=Maria Zaharova, supărată foc: Limba română trebuie redenumită în "limba moldovenească" şi nu viceversa |url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-26148202-maria-zaharova-suparata-foc-limba-romana-trebuie-redenumita-limba-moldoveneasca-nu-viceversa.htm |website=HotNews.ro |language=ro}}</ref> Romanian foreign minister Aurescu replied to this by saying, "This so-called Moldovan language does not exist, it is an artificial construct, which was created by the Soviet Union and has later been used by Russia for disinformation purposes".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rubica |first=Andreea |date=20 March 2023 |title=Aurescu: Limba moldovenească nu există. Este o construcție artificială creată de Uniunea Sovietică |language=ro |work=adevarul.ro |url=https://adevarul.ro/politica/aurescu-limba-moldoveneasca-nu-exista-este-o-2251715.html |access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref> To this, Zakharova replied back by saying, "Sr. Bogdan Aurescu never existed either, but in the end he was created. Now it is possible to call him an artificial construct."<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 March 2023 |title=Maria Zaharova îl atacă pe Bogdan Aurescu în scandalul "limbii moldoveneşti": "Nici ministrul român nu a existat niciodată" |language=ro |work=Digi24.ro |url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/maria-zaharova-il-ataca-pe-bogdan-aurescu-in-scandalul-limbii-moldovenesti-nici-ministrul-roman-nu-a-existat-niciodata-2290315 |access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref> The president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, promulgated the law on 22 March.<ref name="romanian-law-prom"/> It was published on the ''{{ill|Monitorul Oficial al Republicii Moldova|ro}}'' ("Official Bulletin of the Republic of Moldova"), a state publication where all promulgated laws are published, on 24 March, thus entering into force.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 March 2023 |title=Legea prin care sintagma "limba moldovenească" a fost înlocuită cu "limba română" în legislația națională, inclusiv în Constituție, a intrat în vigoare |language=ro |work=Ziarul National |url=https://www.ziarulnational.md/legea-prin-care-sintagma-limba-moldoveneasca-a-fost-inlocuita-cu-limba-romana-in-legislatia-nationala-inclusiv-in-constitutie-a-intrat-in-vigoare/ |access-date=2023-03-24}}</ref> On 30 March, the changes appeared on the Constitution of Moldova.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://protv.md/actualitate/modificat-si-in-constitutie-limba-de-stat-a-republicii-moldova-este-limba-romana-foto---2648619.html|title=Modificat și în Constituție: "Limba de stat a Republicii Moldova este limba română" - FOTO|publisher=[[ProTV Chișinău]]|date=30 March 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

On 13 April, Romanian Foreign Minister [[Bogdan Aurescu]] requested the Ukrainian Foreign Minister [[Dmytro Kuleba]] to relinquish the recognition of the Moldovan language in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gridina |first=Marina |date=2023-04-13 |title=Aurescu asked Kuleba to give up the phrase "Moldovan language" in Ukraine |url=https://moldovalive.md/aurescu-asked-kuleba-to-give-up-the-phrase-moldovan-language-in-ukraine/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=Moldova |language=en-US}}</ref> However, as of June 2023, Ukraine still continues to make Moldovan-language schoolbooks.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.dcnews.ro/ucraina-sfideaza-comunitatea-romaneasca-si-tipareste-manuale-de-limba-si-literatura-moldoveneasca-in-ciuda-solicitarilor-bucurestiului-si-chisinaului_919345.html | title=Ucraina sfidează comunitatea românească și tipărește manuale de limba și literatura "moldovenească", în ciuda solicitărilor Bucureștiului și Chișinăului | date=12 June 2023 }}</ref>

On 18 August, [[Prime Minister of Romania]] [[Marcel Ciolacu]] and [[Prime Minister of Ukraine]] [[Denys Shmyhal]] had a meeting in Bucharest. Among the things that were discussed was the issue of the Romanian minority in Ukraine. Ciolacu said that Romania sought for the Romanians in Ukraine to have exactly the same rights as the [[Ukrainians in Romania]] and also for the removal of the Moldovan language from Ukrainian legislation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-26469154-premierul-ucrainean-denis-smihal-intalneste-bucuresti-marcel-ciolacu-temele-abordate.htm|title=VIDEO Premierul Ucrainei, la București / Marcel Ciolacu: Am stabilit dublarea tranzitului de cereale prin România / Dorim pentru românii din Ucraina exact aceleași drepturi de care se bucură ucrainenii din România|newspaper=HotNews|date=18 August 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

Starting from 1 September 2023, the high school in the village of [[Borysivka, Odesa Oblast|Borysivka]] ({{lang|ro|Borisăuca}}) in [[Odesa Oblast]], where Ukrainian Romanians study, replaced the term "Moldovan language" with "Romanian language" in its curriculum.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stiripesurse.ro/ucrainenii-incep-sa-admita-ca-limba-moldoveneasca-nu-exista_3042093.html|title=Ucrainenii încep să admită că Limba moldovenească nu există|first=Radu|last=Pop|newspaper=Știri pe surse|date=27 August 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

On 10 October, during a meeting between Ciolacu and [[President of Ukraine]] [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]], Ciolacu once again requested that the Ukrainian authorities stop recognizing the existence of the Moldovan language. On the same day, during a meeting with Romanian journalists, Zelenskyy was asked if Ukraine would stop recognising the Moldovan language. He responded by saying that he did not see this as a global problem and that it was not an urgent issue for a country at war but that the Ukrainian government would meet in a week or two and that a solution to the issue "I'm sure everyone will be happy" with would be found.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/externe/zelenski-intrebat-daca-ucraina-este-pregatita-sa-recunoasca-ca-nu-exista-limba-moldoveneasca-guvernele-vor-gasi-solutii-2537211|title=VIDEO Zelenski, despre legea minorităților și limba moldovenească: Această problemă nu e presantă pentru mine. Guvernele vor găsi soluții|newspaper=Digi24|date=10 October 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

On 18 October, Ukrainian authorities promised to "resolve the issue of artificial separation between the Romanian and "Moldovan" languages by implementing appropriate practical measures with due consideration of all legal aspects."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-18 |title=Спільна заява прем'єр-міністрів України та Румунії за результатами першого засідання урядів двох країн |url=https://www.kmu.gov.ua/news/spilna-zaiava-premier-ministriv-ukrainy-ta-rumunii-za-rezultatamy-pershoho-zasidannia-uriadiv-dvokh-krain |website=Кабінет Міністрів України |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-19 |title=Bucharest Says Kyiv Recognizes Romanian As Official Language of Romanian Minority |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-romania-language-minority/32644995.html |website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}</ref> Former Moldovan president [[Igor Dodon]], as well as the [[Revival Party (Moldova)|Revival Party]], have criticised this decision.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://newsmaker.md/ro/dodon-si-renastere-indignati-ca-ucraina-nu-mai-recunoaste-existenta-limbii-moldovenesti-au-refuzat-identitatea-moldovenilor/ | title=Dodon și "Renaștere", indignați că Ucraina nu mai recunoaște existența "limbii moldovenești": "Au refuzat identitatea moldovenilor" | date=19 October 2023 }}</ref> According to an expert on Ukrainian affairs interviewed by the Romanian newspaper ''[[Libertatea]]'', "Marcel Ciolacu's visit to Ukraine marked the end of a diplomatic effort by the Republic of Moldova and Romania in the face of Kyiv but, at the same time, it marks only the beginning of a difficult, lasting process within the Ukrainian state." Thus, the Moldovan language would not have been derecognised by Ukraine on 18 October, this was only in process.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/document-oficial-ce-nu-au-spus-guvernele-romaniei-si-al-ucrainei-schimbarea-limbii-moldovenesti-in-limba-romana-e-abia-in-faza-de-se-inainteaza-propuneri-4720952|title=DOCUMENT OFICIAL. Ce nu au spus guvernele României și Ucrainei: schimbarea "limbii moldovenești" în "limba română" e abia în faza de "se înaintează propuneri"|first=Marin|last=Gherman|newspaper=[[Libertatea]]|date=16 November 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

On 16 November, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Ukrainian government stated that it has initiated steps to abolish the Moldovan language and to replace it with Romanian.<ref>See ‘Official statement regarding the use in Ukraine of the term "Romanian language" instead of the term "Moldovan language"’, at https://mon.gov.ua/en/news/declaratie-oficiala-privind-utilizarea-in-ucraina-termenului-limba-romana-in-locul-termenului-limba-moldoveneasca </ref> The Ukrainian Ministry of Education stated: {{blockquote|‘The Government of Ukraine adopted a decision regarding the use of the term "Romanian language" instead of the term "Moldovan language" in Ukraine. Currently, work is underway to bring the current legislation of Ukraine in line with this decision, which includes many internal regulatory legal acts. Separately, we note that all further acts of the government will be adopted considering the agreements. And all civil servants who allow violations of the government's decision will be subject to disciplinary action. The facts reported in the media regarding the printed textbooks refer to the copies approved for printing in May this year. The main edition of these textbooks was printed in the summer before the decision was made not to use the term "Moldovan language". Today, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has stopped any additional printing of these textbooks. And also develops a mechanism for replacing previously printed copies with textbooks in the Romanian language.'<ref>{{cite web |title=Official statement on the use of the "Romanian language" term instead of the "Moldovan language" in Ukraine |url=https://www.kmu.gov.ua/en/news/ofitsiina-zaiava-shchodo-vykorystannia-v-ukraini-poniattia-rumunska-mova-zamist-poniattia-moldovska-mova |website=www.kmu.gov.ua |publisher=Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine |access-date=29 June 2024 |language=en |date=16 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="AutoK4-40">{{cite news|url=https://dumskaya.net/news/poslednie-moldavskie-shkoly-odesskoy-oblasti-per-181559/ua/|title=Останні молдавські школи Одеської області перейменували рідну мову на румунську: це відкриває низку можливостей для учнів|newspaper=Dumska|date=13 January 2024|language=uk}}</ref>}}

On 13 January 2024, Ukrainian newspaper ''Dumska'' reported that the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science had announced all 16 schools in Odesa Oblast teaching "Moldovan" had dropped the term in favor of Romanian.<REF name="AutoK4-40"/> However, Anatol Popescu, president of the Bessarabia National–Cultural Association, reported that in the Romanian school of {{ill|Utkonosivka|ro|Erdec-Burnu, Ismail|uk|Утконосівка}} ({{lang|ro|Erdec-Burnu}}), the term had been replaced with "language of the national minority" instead, protesting against this and against other issues that had been reported regarding the school's intended renaming and reorganization into a high school.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ziarulnational.md/noi-probleme-la-o-scoala-romaneasca-din-ucraina-limba-moldoveneasca-a-fost-inlocuita-cu-limba-minoritatii-nationale-nu-cu-romana/|title=Noi probleme la o școală românească din Ucraina. "Limba moldovenească" a fost înlocuită cu "limba minorității naționale", nu cu româna|newspaper=Ziarul Național|date=30 January 2024|language=ro}}</ref>

On 24 December, the Ukrainian Government approved a bill that would propose replacing "Moldovan" with Romanian on Ukraine's new proposed international list in the [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]], which would exclude it from the protected languages in Ukraine. The bill would also exclude the [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] and Russian languages. The bill requires examination and approval by the [[Verkhovna Rada]] to enter into force.<ref name="24dec24">{{cite news|url=https://hotnews.ro/guvernul-de-la-kiev-solicita-ca-limba-moldoveneasca-sa-fie-inlocuita-cu-limba-romana-1869401|title=Guvernul de la Kiev solicită ca limba "moldovenească" să fie înlocuită cu limba română|first=Oxana|last=Bondar|newspaper=HotNews|date=26 December 2024|language=ro}}</ref>