Oficial român, în Valea Timocului: „Limba vlahă este un rudiment al politicilor staliniste. Suntem români”

Radu Cosma, a Romanian official, asserts that the Romanian language is spoken in the Timok Valley, rejecting the term "Vlach language" as a remnant of Stalinist policies. He emphasizes the historical and cultural continuity of the Romanian community in eastern Serbia, comparing their situation to that of Moldovan language speakers in Moldova and Ukraine. The event at Mănăstirea Mălainița highlighted Romania's support for the Romanian identity in the region, with officials stressing the importance of preserving cultural heritage. The distinction between "Vlach" and "Romanian" remains contentious, as shown by census data indicating separate ethnic identities.