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History

Geography
The Republic of Moldova is located in southeastern Europe, with its neighbors – Romania in the west and Ukraine – in the north-east and south. Moldova has been a part of the Soviet Union and has recently gained its independence in 1991. It occupies the territory historically known as Bessarabia, the land between the rivers Nistru and Prut. The river Prut is Moldova's western border, while to the east the Nistru river represents the dividing line between Moldovan territory (historical Bessarabia) and the separatist Transnistrian region, which borders Ukraine in the east.

Area: 33,845 sq. km. (13,000 sq. mi.)
Capital: Chisinau
Natural resources: arable land, lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone

People
Moldova is a multi-ethic state, where the most wide-spread languages are Moldovan – the official language that is virtually identical to Romanian, and Russian. The majority of the urban population in concentrated in the bigger cities – Chisinau, Balti, Comrat, Cahul, Tiraspol.

Population (UN, 2005): 4, 3 million
Ethnic groups (1989 est.): Moldovan/Romanian (65%), Ukrainian (13.8%), Russian (13%), Gagauz (3.5%), Jewish (1.5%), Bulgarian (2%), other (1.7%).
Major religions: Christian Orthodox (98%), Jewish, Baptist.
Languages: Romanian (officially known as Moldovan), Russian, Ukrainian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Education: Literacy - 99%.
Life expectancy: 65 years (men), 72 years (women)

Economy
Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent progress. It 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 imports almost all of its energy supplies. Yet in the years 2003-2004 the economy has registered significant growth, with major improvements in macroeconomic indicators.

GDP: $8.581 billion (2004)
GDP real growth rate: 6,8% (2004)
Inflation: 11.5% (2004)
Unemployment: 8% (2002)
Monetary unit: 1 leu = 100 bani

Government
Since its independence in 1991, Moldova has held four parliamentary and presidential elections. In 2000, Parliament passed a decree making Moldova a parliamentary republic, with the president elected by parliament instead of by popular vote. Accordingly, in the 2001 and 2005 elections, the Communist Party has obtained the majority of votes, with subsequent election of Vladimir Voronin as president. Analysts suggest that the majority of votes in 2001 was ensured by a pro-Russian orientation of the government, while in 2005 the president’s turn away from Russia and pro-EU orientation rhetoric boosted the support.

Type: Republic.
Constitution: Adopted July 28, 1994.
Independence: August 27, 1991 (from Soviet Union).
Branches: Executive-President (head of state), Prime Minister (head of Government), Government (cabinet). Legislative-unicameral Parliament. Judicial-Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: 32 counties (raions), 4 municipalities, and one autonomous territorial unit (Autonomous Territorial Unit Gagauzia – autonomy granted in 1994)
Political parties: Communist Party, Popular Christian Democratic Party, The Democratic Moldova Bloc, The Social-Democratic Party, etc.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.

Click here to view the political parties of Moldova

Government Officials
President: Vladimir Voronin
Prime Minister: Vasile Tarlev
President of Parliament: Eugenia Ostapciuc
Foreign Minister: Andrei Stratan

Click here to view the profile of the president of the Republic of Moldova

Foreign Relations
Moldova's Parliament approved the country's membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States and a CIS charter on economic union in April 1994. In 1995, the country became the first former Soviet republic admitted to the Council of Europe. In addition to its membership in NATO's Partnership for Peace, Moldova also belongs to the United Nations, the OSCE, the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Moldova is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In 1998, Moldova contributed to the founding of GUAM, a regional cooperative agreement made up of Georgia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan, in addition to Moldova. In 1999, Uzbekistan also joined the group, renamed GUUAM.

Click here to view the official website of the Republic of Molodova

Click here to view a page about Moldova maintained by a non-governmental organization, Moldova Foundation

Click here to view additional statistical data regarding the Republic of Moldova from the CIA World Factbook

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