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The Republic of Moldova is a landlocked country in eastern Europe, located between Romania to the west and Ukraine to the east. Its border with Romania follows the Prut and lower Danube rivers. Formerly a part of the Soviet Union as the Moldavian SSR, it occupies most of the territory formerly known as Bessarabia (in Romanian, Basarabia), together with areas on the eastern bank of the Dniestr river, called Transnistria, added in 1940.
History
Main article: History of Moldova
Moldova's territory was inhabited in ancient times by Dacians. Situated on a strategic route between Asia and Europe, Moldova has suffered from several invasions, including those of the Kievan Rus and the Mongols.
During the Middle Ages the province of Bessarabia (including most of present-day Moldova but including also districts to the north and south) formed the eastern part of the principality of Moldavia (which, like the present-day republic, was known in Romanian as "Moldova"). The principality became tributary to the Ottoman Empire, but in 1812 the Treaty of Bucharest transferred Bessarabia to Russia. The western part of Moldavia later became part of Romania.
Following the Russian Revolution, Bessarabia briefly became an independent republic in 1918, but was united with Romania that same year. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact allowed the Soviet Union to take Bessarabia in June 1940, and though forced out again in 1941, Soviet troops reoccupied the area in August 1944. Under Soviet rule the southern and northern parts (inhabited by Ukrainians and Romanians) were transferred to Ukraine and Transnistria (largely inhabited by Russians) joined with the remainder in a Soviet republic called the "Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic" covering Moldova's current territory. Under Stalin ethnic Russians were brought into the new country, especially into urbanized areas, while many ethnic Romanians were deported to Siberia and Kazakhstan.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in August 1991, Moldova declared its independence, becoming a member of the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States, that December, along with most of the former Soviet republics.
Initially, there was a movement to reunite with Romania, but a March 1994 referendum saw an overwhelming majority of voters favouring continued independence. In the 2001 elections, the Communist party won a majority of seats in the Parliament and appointed a Communist president.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Moldova
The unicameral Moldovan parliament, the Parlament, has 101 seats, and its members are elected by popular vote every 4 years. The parliament then elects a president, who functions as the head of state. The president appoints a prime minister as head of government who in turn assembles a cabinet, both subject to parliamentary approval.
The largest party in the parliament is currently the Communist Party of Moldova (Partidul Comuniştilor din Moldova, or PCM), which also supplies the current president.
Administrative divisions
Main article: Administrative divisions of Moldova
Out of date map of Moldova showing old subdivisions
Moldova is divided into 32 districts (raion, pl. raioane), 3 municipalities (Chişinău, Bălţi and Bender), two semi-autonomous regions (Găgăuzia and the breakaway region of Transnistria, whose status is still disputed). The districts are:
1. Anenii Noi
2. Basarabeasca
3. Briceni
4. Cahul
5. Cantemir
6. Călăraşi
7. Căuşeni
8. Cimişlia
9. Criuleni
10. Donduşeni
11. Drochia
12. Dubăsari
13. Edineţ
14. Faleşti
15. Floreşti
16. Glodeni
17. Hînceşti
18. Ialoveni
19. Leova
20. Nisporeni
21. Ocniţa
22. Orhei
23. Rezina
24. Rîşcani
25. Sîngerei
26. Soroca
27. Străşeni
28. Şoldăneşti
29. Ştefan Voda
30. Taraclia
31. Teleneşti
32. Ungheni
Formerly (from the late 1990s until February 2003), Moldova was made up of the following 9 counties (judeţe):
Before being divided into counties (during the Soviet times and up until the late 1990s), Moldova had been composed of 40 districts. These territorial and administrative changes over such short periods of time are simply a reflection of the current main policy of the ruling party or coalition (therefore, the ruling Communist Party, which favors the old-style Soviet districts, reinstated them two years after they got to power in 2001).
The part of Moldova east of the Dniestr River, Transnistria - which is more heavily industrialized and is populated by a larger proportion of ethnic Russians and Ukrainians - claimed independence in 1992, fearing Moldovan unification with Romania. Russian and Ukrainian forces intervened, and remain there to keep the peace. The OSCE is involved in negotiations between the Transnistrian leaders and Chişinău.
As no other nation recognises Transnistria, it is de jure a part of Moldova, although in reality it is not controlled by the Moldovan government.
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 north-east, the Dniester is the main river, flowing through the country from north to south.
The country is landlocked, even though it is very close to the Black Sea.
While the northern part of the country is hilly, elevations never exceed 430 m (the highest point being the Dealul Bălăneşti).
Moldova has a temperate continental climate, with warm summers, but mild winters.
The country's main cities are the capital Chişinău, in the centre of the country, Tiraspol (in Transnistria), Bălţi and Bendery.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Moldova
Moldova enjoys a favourable 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 economic liberalisation effort, Moldova introduced a convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises, backed steady land privatisation, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. The government entered into agreements with the World Bank and the IMF to promote growth. Recent trends indicate that the communist government intends to reverse some of these policies, and recollectivise land while placing more restrictions on private business.
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 liberalisation is 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
Ethnicities (1989 est.):
- Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%
- Ukrainian 13.8%
- Russian 13%
- Jewish 1.5%
- Bulgarian 2%
- Gagauz and other 5.2%
Religions (2000):
As many as a million Moldovans are currently out of the country seeking work, while one third of those who remain state that they would leave if they had a chance.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Moldova
Miscellaneous topics
See also
- Moldavia, an adjacent region of Romania.
External links
bg:Молдова
cy:Moldofa
de:Moldawien
es:Moldavia
eo:Moldavio
fr:Moldavie
nl:Republiek Moldavië
ja:モルドバ
lt:Moldavija
no:Moldova
nds:Moldawien
pl:Mo³dawia
ro:Republica Moldova
ru:Молдавия
sa:मोल्दोवा
sl:Moldavija
fi:Moldova
sv:Moldavien
uk:Молдова
zh:摩尔多瓦
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