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Romania is a country in southeastern Europe. Romania has always been one of the richest countries in the region in terms of natural resources. There are still unexploited oil and minerals deposits including platinum, gold, and uranium.
For most of its history foreign powers (including the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empire) tried to control the country, but Romanians managed to maintain a certain degree of independence. It was the only country in the region that did not fall under direct Ottoman control.
Romania is unique in that it is the only Eastern Block country that speaks a Romance language, the Romanian language.
In modern times, Romania was the first country of Central and Eastern Europe to have official relations with the European Community: An agreement including Romania in the community's Generalized System of Preferences in 1974 and an Agreement on Industrial Products in 1980 were signed. On June 22, 1995 Romania submitted its application for EU membership and on February 15, 2000, negotiations on full membership began. Romania's aim is to gain EU membership in 2007 and NATO membership in 2002, at the summit of the Alliance in Prague.
Bucharest (Bucuresti) is its capital and largest city. Among other important cities: Brasov, Timisoara, Cluj-Napoca, Constanta, Craiova, Jassy (Iasi).