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The Republic of Moldova is a country in eastern Europe, located between Romania and Ukraine.

History

Main article: History of Moldova

Situated on a tactical point between Asia and Europe, Moldova has suffered from several invasion, from the Romans to the Kievans and the Mongols. The eastern part of what is now Moldova, Bessarabia became part of the Ottoman Empire, which it remained until 1812, when it was ceded to Russia, while the western part remained in Romania. The eastern part became a Soviet republic with the rise of communism. In 1939, Soviet forces occupied the western part, were again forced out in 1941, and finally occupied the area in 1944. When the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s, Moldova declared its independence. Initially, there was a movement to reunite with Romania, a referendum saw a majority of the inhabitants in favour of independence.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Moldova

The unicameral parliament, Parlamentul, has 101 seats, and its members are elected every 4 years. The parliament then appoints a president, the head of state. The president, with approval of the parliament, appoints a prime minister as head of government. The largest party in the parliament is currently the Partidul Comunistilor din Moldova (PCM), or Moldovan Communist Party.

Counties

Main article: Counties of Moldova

Moldova is divided into 9 counties, or judetele, a municipality (the capital), and two territorial units.

• Balti
• Cahul
• Chisinau (municipality)
• Edinet
• Gagauzia (autonomous territorial unit)
• Lapusna
• Orhei
• Soroca
• Stinga Nistrului (territorial unit)
• Tighina
• Ungheni

The part of Moldova east of the Dniester River, Transnistria - populated by ethnic Russians - claimed independence in 1992, fearing for Moldova unification with Romania. Russian and Ukrainian forces intervened, and remain there to keep the peace. As no other nation recognizes Transnistria, it is de jure part of Moldova, although in reality it is not controlled by the Moldovan government, and it is a centre of organised crime.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Moldova

The western border of Moldova is formed by the Prut river, which joins the Danube before flowing into the Black Sea. In the northeast, the Dniester is the main river, flowing through the country from north to south. While the northern part of the country is hilly, elevations never exceed 430 m (Dealul Balanesti). The country's main cities are the capital Chisinau, in the centre of the country, Tiraspol (in Transnistria), Balti en Bender.

Moldova has a temperate continental climate, with warm summers, but mild winters.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Moldova

Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, coal, and natural gas, largely from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. As part of an ambitious reform effort, Moldova introduced a convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises, backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. The government entered into agreements with the World Bank and the IMF to promote growth and reduce poverty. The economy returned to positive growth, of 2.1% in 2000 and 6.1% in 2001. Growth remained strong in 2002, in part because of the reforms and because of starting from a small base. Further reforms are in doubt because of strong political forces backing government controls. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the scepticism of foreign investors.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Moldova

The majority of the Moldovans, about 65% is of Moldovan\Romanian descent, and speaks Moldovan, which is nearly the same as Romanian. Russians and Ukrainians form sizeable minorties (each about 13%), mostly located in Transnistria, and a group of Gaugaz (5%). All these groups speak their own languages. Nearly all of the Moldovans are Orthodox Christians, with the exception of a small number of Jews.

Miscellaneous topics

External Links

• Official Website of the government of Moldova
• Website of the Department of Tourism Development
• CountryGuide:: Republic of Moldova --editor-maintained directory focused on travel planning and research.