Republic of Moldova
MOLDOVA. Republic of Moldova
A state in the southeastern part of Europe. Although it is not a coastal state, it is geographically inclined towards the Black Sea region. It has access to the Danube (the length of the coastline is less than 1 km). The territory is 33.8 thousand km². The capital is Chișinău (707 thousand as of 2005) - it has the status of a separate administrative unit (municipality), the largest cities are Tiraspol, Bălți, Bender. Administratively, it is divided into 32 districts. Negotiations are ongoing regarding the status of Transnistria, where the unrecognized Transnistrian Moldovan Republic was proclaimed in 1990. On December 23, 1994, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova adopted the Law on the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (Gagauz Yeri). The population is 3,388 thousand (according to the 2004 census, excluding Transnistria); Moldovans - 2,579 thousand (76.1%), Ukrainians - 283 thousand (8.4%), Russians - 198 thousand (5.8%), Gagauz - 147 thousand (4.4%), Romanians - 70 thousand (2.1%), Bulgarians - 65 thousand (1.9%). As of January 1, 2005, the population of Transnistria was 555.5 thousand people, of which 31.9% are Moldovans, 30.3% are Russians, 28.8% are Ukrainians, and 9% are representatives of other nationalities. The official language is Moldovan. Religion: there are 18 religious denominations. The majority of believers are Orthodox. The currency is the Moldovan leu.
Diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation were established on April 6, 1992.
The national holiday is August 27 - Independence Day (1991).
It is a member of the CIS. A member of the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, WTO.
Moldova is a parliamentary republic (the head of state is elected by parliament). The President is V. Voronin (elected April 4, 2005). The highest legislative authority is a unicameral parliament consisting of 101 deputies (elected March 6, 2005). The Chairman is M. Lupu. The executive power is exercised by the government. The Prime Minister is V. Tarlev. Currently, the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, adopted in July 1994, is in effect.
The main political parties are: the Communist Party, the alliance "Our Moldova," the Christian-Democratic People's Party, the Democratic Party, the "Patria - Motherland" bloc.
The indigenous population of modern Moldova descends from the Thracian tribes that lived in the Carpathian-Danubian region. The earlier state formation here, Dacia, was conquered by the Roman Emperor Trajan in 104-105 AD.
In the 10th - early 12th centuries, the territory of Moldova was part of various principalities, and in the mid-13th - first half of the 14th centuries, it was under the rule of the Golden Horde. In 1359, the independent principality of Moldova was formed, reaching its greatest power in the second half of the 15th century under the hospodar Stephen the Great. In the 16th-17th centuries, Moldova was under the domination of the Ottoman Empire.
As a result of the Russo-Turkish wars, in 1792, the territory between the Southern Bug and the Dniester (Transnistria) was ceded to Russia, and in 1812 - the interfluve of the Prut and Dniester, where the Bessarabian Governorate was created. The northern part of the Moldavian principality remained under the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire. In 1859, it united with Wallachia into a single Romanian state.
After the proclamation of Soviet power (December 1917), Bessarabia was occupied by Romanian troops.
The self-governing body "Sfatul Țării" ("Council of the Country"), established on its territory, declared the reunification of Bessarabia with Romania on March 27, 1918. On October 28, 1920, in the Paris Treaty (which was not ratified by all its participants), the victorious states recognized the act of unification. Throughout the interwar period, the USSR consistently rejected the legality of Bessarabia's transition to Romanian rule. On December 12, 1924, the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was established on the left bank of the Dniester (Transnistria) as part of the Ukrainian SSR.
On June 26 and 27, 1940, the Soviet government issued two ultimatums to Romania demanding the unconditional return of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina to the USSR. On June 28, 1940, Red Army units entered these territories. In August 1940, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR decided to create the Moldavian SSR, which included the interfluve of the Prut and Dniester and Transnistria. At the same time, 8 out of 14 districts of the former Moldavian ASSR, as well as the Hotin, Izmail, and Belgorod-Dniester districts of Southern Bessarabia, were included in Ukraine.
In the 1950s-80s, the process of urbanization progressed rapidly, with significant achievements in the development of the economy, education, science, and culture.
On August 31, 1989, the Supreme Soviet of the Moldavian SSR adopted the Law "On the State Language," and on June 23, 1990, the Declaration of State Sovereignty. On August 27, 1991, the Republic of Moldova proclaimed its independence.
A complex of problems accompanying the process of the USSR's collapse led to an escalation of the situation in Transnistria, resulting in armed confrontation from March to July 1992. A ceasefire was achieved as a result of the signing of an agreement on the principles of peaceful conflict resolution by the presidents of Russia and Moldova on July 21, 1992. Currently, security control in the conflict zone is exercised by joint peacekeeping forces from Russia, Moldova, Transnistria, and military observers from Ukraine, and a Joint Control Commission operates. At the same time, the ongoing unresolved nature of the Transnistrian conflict has a direct impact on the socio-political and socio-economic situation in the country.
Moldova is an agrarian-industrial state. Agriculture accounts for 2/3 of agricultural production. Horticulture, viticulture, and vegetable growing are of significant importance. The main branches of industry are food, winemaking, light, and electrical engineering (electric pumps, washing machines). Due to the virtually complete absence of its own fuel and energy resources, Moldova meets its internal needs by importing them from neighboring countries. The main suppliers of fuel and its processed products, machine engineering, chemical products, and paper are Russia and Ukraine.
In the 1990s, the national economy experienced a deep crisis associated with the costs of market reforms, the weakening of traditional ties with former Soviet republics, and the preservation of the territorial division of the country. Since 2000, a trend towards economic recovery has been noted.
In the Republic of Moldova, the National Academy of Sciences operates, along with over 30 higher educational institutions. The largest among them are: Moldova State University, the International Independent University of Moldova, the Academy of Economic Studies, and agricultural, medical, pedagogical, and polytechnic universities.
Moldova has 15 theaters, the most famous being: the National Opera and Ballet Theater of the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Drama Theater named after A. P. Chekhov, and the Drama Theater named after M. Eminescu.
The largest periodicals include: "Moldova Suverană," "Independenta Moldova," and "Flux." Russian newspapers and magazines are freely distributed. The leading news agency is Moldpress.
At the national level, there are 3 television channels operating: "Moldova-1," "ORT-Moldova," and "NIT." Cable television has developed widely.
