President Nicusor Dan said on Monday that the Greek language shaped reflection on the freedom and dignity of every citizen, respect for the law, civic conscience and collective responsibility in pursuit of the common good, in peace and prosperity.

The message, issued on the occasion of World Greek Language Day on 9 February, was addressed to MP Dragos Gabriel Zisopol, representative of the Hellenic Union in Romania in Parliament, and was shared by the Greek Embassy in Bucharest on Facebook.

'Romania reaffirms its belonging to the European space of unity in diversity, built on continuity, memory, pluralism and the cultivation of encounters between civilisations,' the President underlined.

According to him, the Greek language gave rise to philosophy, science, the arts and the political concepts that underpin contemporary democracies.

'It was in the Greek language that reflection took shape on the freedom and dignity of every citizen, on respect for the law and civic conscience, as well as on the responsibility to show solidarity in our efforts to achieve the common good, in peace and prosperity. Today, when democracies are being tested by the re-emergence of extremism and a crisis of values, it becomes all the more necessary to reflect on Europe's humanist heritage, passed down through generations thanks to the Greek language and the great figures of the Greek people,' Nicusor Dan concluded. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Ghita; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)