Moldova

The Republic of Moldova, the landlocked nation is located in Eastern Europe sharing the borders of Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east and south. Chiºinãu is the capital of the country. Moldova enjoys the memberships of several international organizations like United Nations, WTO, OSCE, GUAM, CIS, and BSEC. It is one of the poorest European countries. Moldova is imposing its first 3-year Action Plan within the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy of the EU.

HISTORY:- Moldova had faced various invasions led by the Bastarns, Huns, Magyars, Kievan Rus' and the Mongols in different times. In the 14^th century the principality of Moldavia was formed incorporating Chernivtsi oblast, Budjak of Ukraine, and 8 counties of Romania. The independent principality of Moldavia was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in the 16^th century. Under the Treaty of Bucharest in 1812, Bessarabia was ceded to the Russians by the Ottomans while the Turks continued its reign in the rest of the territory of the principality of Moldavia. After the World War I in 1917, Bessarabia declared independence from Russia. In 1918, Moldavia came under the control of the Kingdom of Romania. Moldavian ASSR was formed by the USSR in 1924. In 1939, under the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact, the Kingdom Of Romania was pressurized to relinquish its possession over Bessarabia in 1940. The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic was created by uniting Moldavia ASSR and Bessarabia by the Soviets. During the World War II, Romania joined with the Nazis to resume its hold upon Bessarabia. In 1944, the Russian troop reinforced Bessarabia and reaffirmed Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1991, after the downfall of Soviet Russia, Moldavia proclaimed its independence with a new name- Moldova.

GEOGRAPHY:- Moldova is situated at 47 00 N, 29 00 E in Eastern Europe, spanning total 33,843 sq km area in which 33,371 sq km comprises landmasses and 472 sq km comprises waters. Moldova is completely a landlocked nation bordering Romania and Ukraine. The lowest point is DniesterRiver (2 m) and the highest point is Dealul Balanesti (430 m). The northern part of Moldova is hilly with rolling steppe towards the sloping south to the Black Sea. The Dniester and the Prut are two major rivers of the country.

CLIMATE:- Moldova has moderate winters, and warm summers.

GOVERNMENT:- Moldova is a republic. The old Soviet constitution of 1979 was replaced by a new constitution in 1994. The legal system is based on the civil law system. The three principal branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), Deputy Prime Minister, and cabinet. The president is elected by the Parliament on a 4-year term. The cabinet ministers are selected by the president after the approval of the Parliament.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.

            Christian Democratic People's Party, Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova, Democratic Party, Liberal Democratic Party, National Liberal Party are the major political parties of Moldova. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

President                                  Vladimir Voronin

Prime Minister              Zinaida Greceanîi

Deputy Prime Minister Igor Dodon

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Moldova is divided into 32 raions, 3 municipalities, and 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala).

CULTURE:- Moldavian culture along with the little influences of the Latin and Slavic cultures is unique. Mihai Eminescu, the national poet of Moldova and Romania, is the most popular Moldavian romantic poet of all times. Eugen Doga is a famous musician of Moldova.

ECONOMY:- Moldova is one of the most impoverished European nations. Having a huge stock of minerals, Moldavian economy is highly dependent on agriculture. It is assumed that Moldavian air is the purest in the world. Moldova is a leading wine producing country in the world.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $9.821 billion; per capita $2,900.

Real growth rate: 5%.

Inflation: 12.6%.

Unemployment: 2.1% (2007 est.).

Arable land: 55%.

Agriculture: Vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk.

Budget:  

Revenues: $1.83 billion

Expenditures: $1.841 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 23.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $3.3 billion (31 December 2007)

Labor force: 1.34 million; agriculture 41%, industry 12%, services 47% (2005).

Industries: Sugar, wine, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles.

Natural resources: Lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone.

Exports: $1.43 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): foodstuffs, textiles, machinery.

Imports: $3.59 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles (2000).

Major trading partners: Russia, Italy, Romania, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Belarus (2006).

Monetary unit: Leu

LANGUAGE:- Moldovan is the official language of Moldova whilst Gagauz, Russian and Ukrainian are also widely spoken.

CITIES:- The capital Chisinau is the largest city of Moldova. Other large cities are Tiraspol, Beltsy, Bendery.

POPULATION:- With an average growth rate of -0.1%, Moldovan population is estimated 4,320,490.

Density per sq mi: 332

Literacy rate: 99% (2005 est.)

RACE:-

Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%

Ukrainian 8.4%

Russian 5.8%

Gagauz 4.4%

Bulgarian 1.9%

Other 1.3% (2004)

RELIGION:-

Eastern Orthodox 98%

Jewish 1.5%

Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 11.01 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 10.8 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.5 years

Total fertility rate: 1.26 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 300 (2001 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 170

UNICEF:- Polio is eliminated from Moldova. The government passed a legislation to ensure that all pregnant women and children would receive prenatal care, obstetric care and immunization. Maternal mortality rates are gradually decreasing in Moldova. UNICEF trains both the health workers and the parents to enrich child care. UNICEF had arranged an interpersonal communication campaign to promote the necessity of iodized salt to reduce iodine deficiency disorders. HIV awareness is growing. With the help of UNICEF, 100 preschools were re-opened in last two years, thereby improving school enrolment rates. Several laws are introduced to abolish child abuse, violence, trafficking and exploitation.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 1,138 km (2006).

Highways: total: 12,733 km; paved: 10,976 km; unpaved: 1,757 km (2004).

Waterways: 424 km (2007).

Ports and harbors: none.

Airports: 10 (2007).