Moldova
19260
226122402
2008-07-16T22:28:38Z
Synthebot
3658625
robot Modifying: [[fi:Moldova]]
{{cleanup|date=February 2007}}
{{otheruses4|the modern state}}
{{Infobox Country or territory
|native_name = ''Republica Moldova''
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Moldova
|common_name = Moldova
|map_caption = {{map_caption |region=on the [[Europe|European continent]]}}
|national_anthem = ''[[Limba noastră]]''{{spaces|2}}<br/>''Our Language''</small><!--Source: http://moldrpcv.tripod.com/id26.html-->
|image_flag = Flag of Moldova.svg
|image_coat = Coat of arms of Moldova.svg
|image_map = Europe_location_MDA.png
|capital = [[Chişinău]]
|latd=47 |latm=0 |latNS=N |longd=28 |longm=55 |longEW=E
|largest_city = capital
|official_languages = [[Moldovan language|Moldovan]]¹
|regional_languages = [[Gagauz language|Gagauz]], [[Russian language|Russian]] and [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]
|demonym = [[Moldovans|Moldovan]], [[Moldovans|Moldavian]]
|government_type = [[Parliamentary republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[President of Moldova|President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Vladimir Voronin]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Moldova|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Zinaida Greceanîi]] ([[Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova|PCRM]])
|sovereignty_type = [[History of Moldova|Consolidation]]
|established_event1 = [[Moldavia|Moldavian Principality]]
|established_date1 = [[1356]]
|established_event2 = Autonomous [[Bessarabia in the Russian Empire|Bessarabian Oblast]]
|established_date2 = [[April 29]], [[1818]]
|established_event3 = [[Moldavian Democratic Republic]]
|established_date3 = [[December 16]], [[1917]]
|established_event4 = [[Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic]]
|established_date4 = [[August 2]], [[1940]]
|established_event5 = [[Collapse of the Soviet Union|Independence]] from the [[Soviet Union]]
|established_date5 = [[August 27]], [[1991]] (Declared) <br> [[December 25]], [[1991]] (Finalized)
|area_km2 = 33,846 <!-- http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2008/cr08132.pdf -->
|area_sq_mi = 13,067 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|area_rank = 139th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|percent_water = 1.4
|population_estimate = 4,128,047
|population_estimate_year = 2008<ref>{{ro icon}}[http://www.statistica.md/statistics/dat/1253/ro/Situatia_demografica_2007.pdf Situaţia demografică în Republica Moldova pentru anul 2007 Demographyc situation in the Republic od Moldova as for [[January 1]], [[2008]]] and [http://pridnestrovie.net/facts.html#population 2004 census of Transnistrian region]</ref>
|population_estimate_rank = 121st<sup>2</sup>
|population_census = 3,383,332<sup>3</sup>
|population_census_year = 2004
|population_density_km2 = 121,9
|population_density_sq_mi = 316 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|population_density_rank = 87st
|GDP_PPP_year = 2007
|GDP_PPP = $9,367 million
|GDP_PPP_rank = 141st
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $2,962
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 135th
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.708
|HDI_rank = 111th
|HDI_category = <font color="#FFCC00">medium</font>
|Gini = 37.1 <!-- http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2008/cr08132.pdf -->
|Gini_year = 2007
|Gini_category = <font color="#ffcc00">medium</font>
|currency = [[Moldovan leu]]
|currency_code = MDL
|time_zone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset = +2
|time_zone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +3
|cctld = [[.md]]
|calling_code = 373
|footnote1 = Used as formal official name; literary form shared with [[Romanian language|Romanian]].
|footnote2 = Ranking based on 2005 UN figure including Transnistria.
|footnote3 = 2004 census data from the National Bureau of Statistics.<ref name="moldstat">{{ro icon}}[http://www.statistica.md/recensamint.php?lang=ro National Bureau of Statistics of Moldova]</ref> Figure does not include [[Transnistria]] and [[Bender, Moldova|Bender]].
}}
'''Moldova''', officially the '''Republic of Moldova''' (''Republica Moldova'') is a [[landlocked]] country in [[Eastern Europe]], located between [[Romania]] to the west and [[Ukraine]] to the north, east and south.
In the [[Middle Ages]], most of the present territory of Moldova was part of the [[Principality of Moldavia]], and in [[1812]] it became part of the [[Russian Empire]], under the name of [[Bessarabia]]. Upon the dissolution of the Russian Empire in [[1917]]-[[1918]], Bessarabia joined [[Greater Romania|Romania]]. In 1940, Bessarabia [[Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina|was occupied]] by the [[Soviet Union]], and after changing hands in 1941 and 1944 during [[World War II]], it was split between the [[Ukrainian SSR]] and the newly-created [[Moldavian SSR]]. Moldova declared its independence from the [[USSR]] on [[August 27]], [[1991]]. Despite signing international obligations to withdraw,<ref>[http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.event_summary&event_id=5940 The 1999 OCSE Istanbul Summit Decisions on Moldova and Georgia: Prospects for Implementation] at [[Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars]]</ref> [[Russia]]n military forces have remained on Moldovan territory; since 1993 they have been stationed in the breakaway territory of [[Transnistria]] against the will of the Moldovan Government.<ref name="astratan"/>
The country is a [[parliamentary democracy]] with a [[President of Moldova|president]] as its [[head of state]] and a [[List of Prime Ministers of Moldova|prime minister]] as its [[head of government]]. Moldova is a member state of the [[United Nations]], [[World Trade Organization|WTO]], [[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe|OSCE]], [[GUAM]], [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]], [[Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation|BSEC]] and other [[international organization]]s. Moldova currently aspires to join the [[European Union]]<ref>[http://www.moldpres.md/default.asp?Lang=en&ID=68715 "Moldova will prove that it can and has chances to become EU member,"] Moldpress News Agency, [[June 19]], [[2007]]</ref> and is implementing its first three-year Action Plan within the framework of the [[European Neighborhood Policy]] (ENP) of the EU.<ref>[http://politicom.moldova.org/stiri/eng/40/ "Moldova-EU Action Plan Approved by European Commission"], moldova.org, [[December 14]] [[2004]], retrieved [[July 2]] [[2007]]</ref>
== History ==
{{main|History of Moldova}}
[[Image:Humorstefan.jpg|thumb|left|200px| [[Stephen the Great]] - the [[List of Moldavian rulers|Prince]] of [[Principality of Moldavia|Moldavia]] between 1457 and 1504 and the most prominent representative of Moldavian historical personalities]]
In [[Classical antiquity|Antiquity]] Moldova's territory was inhabited by [[Dacian]] and [[Sarmatian]] tribes. Due to its strategic location on a route between [[Asia]] and [[Europe]], Moldova faced several invasions, including those by the [[Bastarnae|Bastarns]], [[Huns]], [[Magyars]], [[Kievan Rus']] and the [[Mongols]]. Beginning with the [[Late Middle Ages]], the territory of Republic of Moldova, that of the [[Chernivtsi oblast]] and [[Budjak]] of Ukraine, as well as that of the eastern 8 of the 41 counties of Romania comprised the [[Principality]] of [[Moldavia]] (which, like the present-day republic, was known to the locals as ''Moldova''). The principality became a [[tribute|tributary]] to the [[Ottoman Empire]] during the 16th century.
In 1812, according to the [[Treaty of Bucharest, 1812|Treaty of Bucharest]] between the Ottoman and the [[Russian Empire]]s, the former ceded the eastern half of the territory of the Principality of Moldavia, along [[Khotyn]] and old Bessarabia (modern [[Budjak]]).<ref>
*[http://www.moldavians.com/moldova/ Following the Peace concluded in Bucharest, in 1812, a part of this territory was asigned to Czarist Russia]
*[http://www.hronos.km.ru/dokum/rutur1812.html Selection of encyclopedias in Russian language on the Treaty of Bucharest]
*[http://www.emc.komi.com/01/02/204.htm again "transferred/passed over to the Russian Empire]
*{{Cite book|title=History of the Republic of Moldova: from most ancient times till our days - Association of Moldavian scientists "Milescu-Spataru" - Second reviewed and added edition|year=2002|publisher=Elan Poligraf|pages=95-360|isbn= 9975-9719-5-4}}
*{{Cite book|title=Stati V.:History of Moldavia|year=2002||pages=218-220|publisher=Tipografia Centrală|isbn=9975-9504-1-8}} both use the phrasing ''According to the Article 4, Porta ceded to Russia the eastern part of the Moldavian Principality - the territory between Prut and Danube''
*[http://ru.wikisource.org/wiki/%D0%91%D1%83%D1%85%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%80_%281812%29 Article 4 of the Treaty]
*[http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-82861/Treaty-of-Bucharest what Britannica Encyclopedia '''concessions of Mahmud II ''', '''History of Moldova''', '''History of Ottoman Empire''', '''History of Russo-Turkish wars''']
*[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Bessarab.html what Columbia Encyclopedia sixth edition 2008]
*Batiushkov, P. Bessarabiia: Istoricheskoe opisanie (Saint Petersburg 1892)
*Berg, L. Bessarabiia (Petrograd 1918)
*Dembo, V. Nikoly ne zabuty: Kryvavyi litopys Besarabiï. Z ofitsiinykh dokumentiv (Kharkiv 1923)
*Berg, L. Naselenie Bessarabii, etnograficheskii sostav i chislennost' (Petrograd 1925)
*Babel, A. La Bessarabie (Paris 1926)
*Uhlig, C. Die bessarabische Frage: Eine geopolitische Betrachtung (Breslau 1926)
*Iorga, N. La vérité sur le passé et le présent de la Bessarabie (Bucharest 1931)
*Nistor, I. La Bessarabie et la Bucovine (Bucharest 1937)
*Mokhov, N. Ocherki istorii moldavsko-russko-ukrainskikh sviazei (s drevneishikh vremen do nachala XIX veka) (Kishinev 1961)
*Istoriia Moldavskoi SSR, 1–2 (Kishinev 1965–8)
*Smishko, P. Borot'ba trudiashchykh ukraintsiv prydunais'kykh zemel' za vozz'iednannia z URSR (1917–1940) (Lviv 1969)
*Zelenchuk, V. Nasalenie Moldavii (Demograficheskie protsesy i etnicheshii sostav) (Kishinev 1973)
*Jewsbury, G.F. The Russian Annexation of Bessarabia 1774–1828: A Study of Imperial Expansion (Boulder, Col, 1976)
*Khotinskoe vosstanie (Sbornik dokumentov i materialov) (Kishinev 1976)
*Moldavskaia SSR v Velikoi Otechestvennoi voine Sovetskogo Soiuza, 2 (Kishinev 1976)
*Meurs, W. van. The Bessarabian Question in Communist Historiography: Nationalist and Communist Politics and History-Writing (New York 1994)</ref> At first, the Russians used the name "[[Oblast]]' of Moldavia and Bessarabia", allowing a large degree of autonomy, but later (in 1828) suspended the self-administration and called it [[Guberniya]] of [[Bessarabia]], or simply Bessarabia, starting a process of [[Russification]]. The western part of Moldavia (which is not a part of present-day Moldova) remained an autonomous principality, and in 1859, united with [[Wallachia]] to form the [[Kingdom of Romania]]. In 1856, the Treaty of Paris saw two out of nine counties of Bessarabia, [[Cahul]] and [[Ismail]], returned to Moldavia, but in 1878, the Treaty of Berlin saw the Kingdom of Romania returning them to the Russian Empire.
Upon annexation, after the expulsion of the large [[Tatars|Tatar]] population of Budjak, the [[Moldovans|Moldovan]]/[[Romanians|Romanian]] population of Bessarabia was predominant.<ref>[http://depts.washington.edu/cartah/text_archive/clark/bc_8.shtml#bc_8 ''Bessarabia'' by Charles Upson Clark, 1927, chapter 8]: "The first Russian census after the annexation (1816) revealed a province almost solidly Romanian-of a population of about half a million, 921/2% Moldavian and Ukrainian, 11/2% Lipovans (Russian heterodox), 41/2% Jews, 1.6% other races."</ref> The [[colonization]] of the region in the 19th century, generated by the need to better exploit the resources of the land,<ref>Marcel Mitrasca, ''Moldova: A Romanian Province Under Russian Rule'', Algora, 2002, ISBN 1892941864, pg. 25 </ref> lead to an increase in the [[Russians|Russian]], [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]], [[Lipovan]], and [[Cossack]] populations in the region; this together with a large influx of [[Bulgarian]] immigrants, saw an increase of the [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] population to more than a fifth of the total population by 1920.<ref>[http://depts.washington.edu/cartah/text_archive/clark/bc_8.shtml#bc_8 ''Bessarabia'' by Charles Upson Clark, 1927, chapter 8]: "Today, the [[Bessarabian Bulgars|Bulgarians]] form one of the most solid elements in Southern Bessarabia, numbering (with the Gagaoutzi, Turkish-speaking Christians also from the Dobrudja) nearly 150,000. Colonization brought in numerous Great Russian peasants, and the Russian bureaucracy imported Russian office-holders and professional men; according to the Romanian estimate of 1920, the Great Russians were about 75,000 in number (2.9% ), and the Lipovans and Cossacks 59,000 (2.2% ) ; the Little Russians (Ukrainians) came to 254,000 (9.6%). That, plus about 10,000 Poles, brings the total number of Slavs to 545,000 in a population of 2,631,000, or about one-fifth"</ref> With the settling of other nationals such as [[Gagauz]], [[Jews]], and [[Germans]] ([[Bessarabian Germans]]), the proportion of the Moldovan population decreased from around 80%<ref>Ion Nistor, ''Istoria Bassarabiei'', Cernauti, 1921</ref> to 52% by some sources<ref>{{de icon}} Flavius Solomon, Die Republik Moldau und ihre Minderheiten (Länderlexikon), in Ethnodoc-Datenbank für Minderheitenforschung in Südostosteuropa, p. 52</ref> or to 70% by others<ref>[http://depts.washington.edu/cartah/text_archive/clark/bc_7.shtml#bc_7 ''Bessarabia'' by Charles Upson Clark, 1927, chapter 7]</ref> during the course of the century. The Tsarist policy in Bessarabia was in part aimed at [[denationalization]] of the Romanian element by forbidding after the 1860s [[education]] and [[mass (liturgy)|mass]] in Romanian. However, the effect was an extremely low literacy rate (in 1897 approx. 18% for males, approx. 4% for females) rather than a denationalization.<ref>[http://depts.washington.edu/cartah/text_archive/clark/bc_10.shtml#bc_10 ''Bessarabia'' by Charles Upson Clark, 1927, chapter 10]: "Naturally, this system resulted not in acquisition of Russian by the Moldavians, but in their almost complete illiteracy in any language."]</ref>
[[World War I]] brought in a rise in political and cultural (national) awareness of the locals, as 300,000 Bessarabians were drafted into the Russian Army formed in 1917, within bigger units several "Moldavian Soldiers' Committees" were formed. Following the [[Russian Revolution of 1917]], a Bessarabian parliament, ''[[Sfatul Ţării]]'' (October-November 1917), which was opened on {{OldStyleDate|December 3|1917|November 21}}, proclaimed the [[Moldavian Democratic Republic]] ({{OldStyleDate|December 15|1917|December 2}}) within a federal Russian state, and formed its [[government]] ({{OldStyleDate|December 21|1917|December 8}}). Bessarabia proclaimed [[independence]] from [[Russia]] ({{OldStyleDate|February 6|1918|January 24}}), and, on {{OldStyleDate|April 9|1918|March 27}}, Sfatul Ţării decided with 86 votes for, 3 against and 36 abstaining, on union with the [[Kingdom of Romania]], conditional upon the fulfilment of the agrarian reform, local autonomy, and respect for universal human rights. The conditions were dropped after [[Bukovina]] and [[Transylvania]] also joined the Kingdom of Romania.<ref>{{ro icon}}[http://www.prm.md/search.php?id=2332&lang=rom prm.md:]"''Sfatul Tarii'' ... proclaimed the Moldavian Democratic Republic"</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Charles Upson Clark||title=Bessarabia: Russia and Romania on the Black Sea - View Across Dniester From Hotin Castle|publisher=Dodd, Mead & Company|location=New York|year=1927|chapter=24:The Decay of Russian Setiment|url=http://depts.washington.edu/cartah/text_archive/clark/bc_17.shtml#bc_17}}</ref><ref>Pelivan (''Chronology'')</ref><ref>Cazacu (''Moldova'', pp. 240-245).</ref><ref>Cristina Petrescu, "Contrasting/Conflicting Identities:Bessarabians, Romanians, Moldovans" in Nation-Building and Contested Identities, Polirom, 2001, pg. 156</ref>
===Part of Greater Romania===
{{seealso|Union of Bessarabia with Romania}}
After 1918 Bessarabia was under Romanian jurisdiction for the next 22 years. This fact was recognized in the [[Treaty of Paris (1920)]]<ref name="legal">{{citejournal|title=The Legal Status of the Bukovina and Bessarabia|author=Malbone W. Graham|journal=The American Journal of International Law|date=October 1944|volume=38|issue=4|pubisher=American Society of International Law|url=http://www.jstor.org.www.library.gatech.edu:2048/stable/2192802?&Search=yes&term=bessarabia&term=status&term=bukovina&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dstatus%2Bof%2BBessarabia%2BAND%2BBukovina%26gw%3Djtx%26prq%3Dstatus%2Bof%2BBessarabia%2BAND%2BBukovina%26Search%3DSearch%26hp%3D25&item=1&ttl=90&returnArticleService=showArticle|accessdate=2007-12-08|format=– <sup>[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=author%3A+intitle%3AThe+Legal+Status+of+the+Bukovina+and+Bessarabia&as_publication=The+American+Journal+of+International+Law&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup>}}</ref> which, however, has never came into force since it was not ratified by [[Japan]].<ref>{{citejournal|title=Roma, 1924-1927|author=Ioan Bulei|journal=Magazin Istoric|date=March. 1998|issue=3|pubisher=Fundaţia Culturală Magazin Istoric|url=http://www.itcnet.ro/history/archive/mi1998/current3/mi13.htm|accessdate=2008-02-26}}</ref> The newly-communist [[Russia]] did not recognize the Romanian rule over Bessarabia<ref>Wayne S Vucinich, ''Bessarabia'' In: ''[[Collier's Encyclopedia]]'' (Crowell Collier and MacMillan Inc., 1967) vol. 4, p. 103</ref>, a stand that was tacitly accepted by many other countries such as the [[United States]]<ref name="legal"/>. Furthermore, Russia and later, the Soviet Union, considered the region to be Soviet territory under foreign occupation and conducted numerous diplomatic attempts to reclaim it. No diplomatic relations existed between the two states until 1934. Nonetheless, both countries have subscribed to the principle of non-violent resolution of territorial disputes in the [[Kellogg-Briand Treaty]] of [[1928]] and the [[Treaty of London]] of July [[1933]]. Meanwhile, the neigboring region of [[Transnistria]], part of the [[Ukrainian SSR]] at the time, was formed into the [[Moldavian ASSR]] after the failure of the [[Tatarbunary Uprising]] in 1924.
The [[land reform|agrarian (land) reform]], implemented by ''Sfatul Ţării'' in 1918-[[1919]], resulted in a rise of a [[middle class]], as 87% of the region's population lived in [[rural]] areas. Together with peace and favorable economic circumstances, this reform resulted in a small economic boom. However, urban development and industry were insignificant, and the region remained primarily an agrarian rural region throughout the interwar period.<ref>Cristina Petrescu, "Contrasting/Conflicting Identities:Bessarabians, Romanians, Moldovans" in Nation-Building and Contested Identities, Polirom, 2001, pg. 159</ref> Certain improvements were achieved in the area of education, the literacy rate rising from 15.6% in [[1897]]<ref name="CKing">[[Charles King (author)|Charles King]], ''The Moldovans: Romania, Russia, and the politics of culture'', Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University, 2000. ISBN 0-8179-9792-X. p. 23</ref> to 37% by [[1930]], however Bessarabia continued to lag behind the rest of the country, the national literacy rate being at 60%.<ref>Cristina Petrescu, "Contrasting/Conflicting Identities:Bessarabians, Romanians, Moldovans" in Nation-Building and Contested Identities, Polirom, 2001, pg. 159</ref> During the inter-war period, Romanian authorities also conducted a program of [[Romanianization]] that sought to assimilate ethnic minorities throughout the country. The enforcement of this policy was especially pervasive in Bessarabia due to its highly diverse population, and resulted in the closure of minority educational and cultural institutions.<ref name="CKing">[[Charles King (author)|Charles King]], ''The Moldovans: Romania, Russia, and the politics of culture'', Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University, 2000. ISBN 0-8179-9792-X. p. 44</ref>
[[Image:Regions of Moldavia.png|thumb|left|250px|Territories of the medieval [[Principality of Moldavia]] are now split between [[Ukraine]] (southern [[Bessarabia]] with [[Budjak]], northern Bessarabia with [[Khotin]] and northern [[Bukovina]]), [[Romania]] (western Moldavia with southern Bukovina) and Moldova (center of Bessarabia).]]
===Soviet era===
{{seealso|Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic}}
In August 1939, the [[Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact]] was signed, and Nazi Germany recognized [[Bessarabia]] as being within the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] sphere of influence, which led the latter to actively revive its claim to the region.<ref>{{cite book | last = Olson | first = James | title = An Ethnohistorical Dictionary of the Russian and Soviet Empires | date= 1994 | page = 483}}</ref> On [[June 26]] [[1940]], Romania received an [[June 1940 Soviet Ultimatum|ultimatum]] from the Soviet Union, demanding the evacuation of the Romanian military and administration from Bessarabia and from the northern part of [[Bukovina]], with an implied threat invasion in the event of non-compliance. Under pressure from [[Moscow]] and [[Berlin]], the Romanian administration and the army retreated from these territories,<ref>{{cite book | last = Goma | first = Paul | title = Săptămâna Roşie | date= 2006 | page = 23 | url = http://paulgoma.free.fr/dl_links/publicistica/saptamana_rosie.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Nagy-Talavera | first = Nicolas M. | title = Green Shirts and Others: a History of Fascism in Hungary and Romania | date= 1970 | page = 305}}</ref> and on [[June 28]], [[1940]] they were [[Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina|occupied by the Soviet Union]]. During the retreat, the Romanian Army was attacked by the Soviet Army, which entered Bessarabia before the Romanian administration finished retreating, as a result of which some 42,876 Romanian soldiers and officers were unaccounted for after the retreat.<ref>{{cite book | author= [[Paul Goma]] | title = Săptămâna Roşie | date= 2006 | page = 206 | url = http://paulgoma.free.fr/dl_links/publicistica/saptamana_rosie.php}}</ref> The northern and southern parts, which had sizeable non-Moldovan communities (of [[Ukrainians]], [[Bessarabian Bulgarians]], [[Bessarabian Germans]] and [[Lipovans]]), were transferred to the [[Ukrainian SSR]] as the [[Chernivtsi Oblast|Chernivtsi]] and [[Budjak|Izmail Oblast]]s. At the same time, the [[Moldavian ASSR]], where Moldovans were a [[plurality]], was disbanded, and up to half its territory was joined with the remaining territory of Bessarabia to form the [[Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic]] (MSSR), contiguous with present-day Moldova.
By participating in the [[1941]] [[Operation Barbarossa|Axis invasion of the Soviet Union]], Romania seized the territory of the MSSR, and re-established its administration there. In [[Transnistria (WWII)|occupied Transnistria]], Romanian forces, working with the Germans, deported or exterminated 300,000 Jews, including 147,000 from Bessarabia and Bukovina.<ref>[http://www.presidency.ro/static/ordine/RAPORT_FINAL_CPADCR.pdf Tismăneanu Report], pages 585</ref> The Soviet Army reconquered and re-annexed the area in February-August [[1944]].
Under early Soviet rule, deportations of locals to the northern [[Ural]]s, [[Siberia]], and [[Kazakhstan]] occurred regularly throughout the [[Stalin]]ist period, with the largest ones on 12-13 June [[1941]], and 5-6 July 1949, accounting for 19,000 and 35,000 deportees respectively.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.presidency.ro/static/ordine/RAPORT_FINAL_CPADCR.pdf Tismăneanu Report], pages 584 and 587</ref> According to Russian historians, in 1940-1941, ca. 90,000 inhabitants of the annexed territories were subject to political persecutions.<ref name="tismrep">{{ro icon}} Comisia Prezidenţială pentru Analiza Dictaturii Comuniste din România: Raport Final / ed.: Vladimir Tismăneanu, Dorin Dobrincu, Cristian Vasile, Bucureşti: Humanitas, 2007, 879 pp., ISBN 978-973-50-1836-8 (Tismăneanu Report)</ref> In 1946, as a result of a severe drought and excessive delivery quota obligations and requisitions imposed by the Soviet government, the southwestern part of the USSR suffered from widespread famine resulting in 216,000 deaths and about 350,000 cases of [[dystrophy]] in the Moldavian SSR alone.<ref name="tismrep"/> Similar events occurred in 1930s in the Moldavian ASSR.<ref name="tismrep"/> In 1944-53, there were numerous anti-Communist armed resistance groups active in Moldova; however the [[NKVD]] and later [[Ministry for State Security (USSR)|MGB]] managed to uproot most of them with arrests and deportation.<ref name="tismrep"/>
The postwar period saw a wide scale migration of ethnic [[Russians]] and [[Ukrainians]] into the new Soviet republic, especially into urbanized areas, partly to compensate the demographic loss caused by the emigration of Germans in 1940.<ref>Pal Kolsto, ''National Integration and Violent Conflict in Post-Soviet Societies: The Cases of Estonia and Moldova'', [[Rowman & Littlefield]], 2002, ISBN 0742518884, pg. 202</ref> The Soviet government conducted a campaign to promote a Moldovan ethnic identity, different from that of the Romanians, based on a theory developed during the existence of the Moldavian ASSR. Official Soviet policy asserted that the language spoken by Moldovans was distinct from the [[Romanian language]] (see [[History of the Moldovan language]]). [[Moldovan language|Moldovan]] was written in the [[Moldovan Cyrillic alphabet|Cyrillic alphabet]], in contrast with Romanian, which was written in the [[Latin alphabet]] since 1860, to distinguish the two. In 1970s and 1980s, the Moldavian SSR received substantial allocations from the budget of the USSR to develop industrial and scientific facilities as well as housing. In 1971, the [[Council of Ministers of the USSR]] adopted a decision "About the measures for further development of the city of [[Chişinău|Kishinev]]", that allotted more than one billion [[Soviet ruble]]s from the USSR budget; subsequent decisions also directed substantial funding and brought qualified specialists from other parts of the USSR to develop Moldova's industry.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} This influx of investments was stopped in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when Moldova became independent.
===Independence===
[[Image:TransnistrianRegionMap.png|thumb|right|200px|Transnistrian region of Moldova]]
Along with the other peripheral Soviet republics, Moldova started to move towards independence from [[1988]] onwards; on [[August 31]], [[1989]] a language law was passed, adopting the Latin alphabet for Moldovan and declaring it the state language of the MSSR.<ref name="lang law">[http://www.iatp.md/ladom/downloads/M3.doc Legea cu privire la functionarea limbilor vorbite pe teritoriul RSS Moldovenesti Nr.3465-XI din 01.09.89 Vestile nr.9/217, 1989] (Law regarding the usage of languages spoken on the territory of the Republic of Moldova): ''"Moldavian SSR supports the desire of the Moldovans that live across the borders of the Republic, and considering the existing linguistical Moldo-Romanian identity - of the Romanians that live on the territory of the USSR, of doing their studies and satisfying their cultural needs in their maternal language."''</ref> The first independent elections into the local parliament were held in February and March 1990. After the [[1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt|attempted Moscow Putsch]], Moldova declared its independence on [[August 27]], [[1991]], and in December of that year joined the post-Soviet [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] (CIS) along with most of the former Soviet republics. Declaring itself a neutral state, it did not join the military branch of the CIS. At the end of that year, a former communist reformer, [[Mircea Snegur]], won an unchallenged election for the presidency. Three months later, the country achieved formal recognition as an independent state at the [[United Nations]].
The part of Moldova east of the [[Dniester]] river, [[Transnistria]], which included a larger proportion of ethnic Russians and Ukrainians, claimed independence in 1990, fearing the rise of nationalism in Moldova and the country's expected reunification with [[Romania]] upon secession from the USSR. This caused a brief [[War of Transnistria|military conflict]] between Moldova and forces supporting the secession of Transnistria in 1992. Russian military stationed in the region (14th Army) [[14th Army involvement in Transnistria|intervened on the Transnistrian side]] and remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester after the end of the military conflict, despite signing international obligations to withdraw, and against the will of Moldovan government.<ref name="astratan">[http://www.mfa.md/mass-media-and-public-relation/new-york-01102007-en/ Statement by H.E. Mr. Andrei Stratan at the General Debate of the Sixty Second Session of the UN General Assembly, New-York, [[1 October]] [[2007]]]: "I would like to reiterate on this occasion the position of the Republic of Moldova according to which the withdrawal of the Russian troops that remain on the Moldovan territory against its will, in conformity with the obligations assumed by the Russian Federation in 1999 in Istanbul, would create the necessary premises for ratifying and applying the Adapted CFE Treaty."</ref><ref>http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2368523 Jamestown: "MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT WANTS OUT OF RUSSIA'S ORBIT"</ref> As of 2006, approximately 1200 of the 14th army personnel remain stationed in Transnistria. Negotiations between the Transnistrian and Moldovan leaders have been going on under the mediation of the [[OSCE]], Russia, and Ukraine; lately observers from the [[European Union]] and the [[USA]] have become involved.
The [[1998]] economic crisis in Russia, Moldova's main economic partner at the time, produced an economic crisis in the country. The political flux was cleared in 2001 when elections saw the [[Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova|Party of Communists of Moldova]] win the majority of seats in the Parliament. Its leader [[Vladimir Voronin]] was appointed president. In economic terms, the crisis provoked an emigration of labor, as well as permanent emigration from Moldova. According to the census data, from 1989 to 2004, Moldova has lost about 400,000 inhabitants, or 9% of the population. Analysts estimate that actual emigration could be higher, as many seasonal workers remain registered as living in the country.
Relationships between Moldova and [[Russia]] deteriorated in November 2003 over a [[Kozak memorandum|Russian proposal]] for the solution of the Transnistrian conflict, which Moldovan authorities refused to accept. In the following election, held in 2005, the Communist party made a formal 180 degree turn and was re-elected on a pro-Western platform,{{Fact|date=December 2007}} with Voronin being re-elected to a second term as a president. Since 1999, Moldova has constantly affirmed its desire to join the [[European Union]],<ref>[http://www.moldpres.md/default.asp?Lang=en&ID=68715 Moldpres:"Voronin highlighted, that we will strive for becoming an EU member"]</ref><ref>[http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=12254387&PageNum=0 Itar-Tass<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and implement its first three-year Action Plan within the framework of the [[European Neighborhood Policy]] (ENP) of the EU.<ref>[http://politicom.moldova.org/stiri/eng/40/ Moldova-EU Action Plan Approved by European Commission], http://www.azi.md, [[14 December]] [[2004]], retrieved [[2 July]] [[2007]]</ref><ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/pdf/action_plans/moldova_enp_ap_final_en.pdf EU/MOLDOVA ACTION PLAN] </ref>
== Government ==
{{main|Politics of Moldova}}
Moldova is a [[Unitary state|unitary]] [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[Representative democracy|representative]] [[Democracy|democratic]] [[republic]]. The [[Constitution of Moldova]], adopted in 1994 sets the framework for the government of the country. In order to amend the constitution, a parliamentary majority of at least two thirds is required. Furthermore, the constitution cannot be revised in time of war or national emergency, and no revision can be made that limits the fundamental rights enumerated in the Constitution. Furthermore, amendments to the Constitution affecting the state's sovereignty, independence, or unity can only be made after a majority of voters support the proposal in a referendum.<ref name='const'>Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. [http://xiv.parlament.md/en/legalfoundation/constitution/t1/ The Constitution of the Republic of Moldova] 2000. Retrieved [[November 14|11-14]], [[2007]]</ref>
The country's central legislative body is the [[unicameral]] Moldovan [[parliament]] (''{{lang|ro|Parlament}}''), which has 101 seats, and whose members are elected by popular vote every four years. The [[head of state]] is the [[president]], who is elected by Parliament, requiring the support of three fifths of the deputies (at least 61 votes). The president appoints a [[prime minister]] who functions as the [[head of government]] and who in turn assembles a [[cabinet (government)|cabinet]], both subject to parliamentary approval. The Constitution also establishes an [[Judicial independence|independent]] [[List of constitutional courts|Constitutional Court]], which has the power of [[judicial review]] over all acts of parliaments, Presidential decrees, and international treaties. Members of this Court are composed of six judges, two appointed by the President, Parliament, and the High Magistrates Council each. The judges serve for a term of six years, during which time they are not subordinate to any other power and cannot be removed from their posts.<ref name='const'/>
Currently, the President of Moldova is [[Vladimir Voronin]]. Voronin has held this post since 2001. The main party in parliament is the [[Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova]], which holds a majority of 55 seats. Other parties with deputies in Parliament are the [[Party Alliance Our Moldova]], the [[Democratic Party of Moldova]], the [[Social Liberal Party (Moldova)|Social Liberal Party]], and the [[Christian-Democratic People's Party (Moldova)|Christian-Democratic People's Party]]. 17 deputies to parliament are independents.<ref>Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. [http://www.parlament.md/structure/factions/en.html Parliamentary Factions] Retrieved [[November 14|11-14]], [[2007]]</ref>
=== Foreign relations ===
{{main|Foreign Relations of Moldova|Moldova and the European Union}}
After achieving independence from the [[Soviet Union]], Moldova established relations with other European countries. A course for [[European Union]] integration and neutrality define the country's foreign policy guidelines. In 1995 the country became the first post-Soviet state admitted to the [[Council of Europe]]. In addition to its participation in [[NATO]]'s [[Partnership for Peace]] program, Moldova is also a member state of the [[United Nations]], the [[OSCE]], the [[North Atlantic Cooperation Council]], the [[World Trade Organization]], the [[International Monetary Fund]], the [[World Bank]], the [[Francophonie]] and the [[European Bank for Reconstruction and Development]]. In 2005 Moldova and EU established an action plan that sought to improve the collaboration between the two neighboring structures. In June 2007 the Vice President of the Moldovan Parliament [[Iurie Roşca]] signed a bilateral agreement with the [[International Parliament for Safety and Peace]], an intergovernmental organization for the promotion of world peace, based in Italy.<ref>[http://www.international-parliament.net/seite22.htm Bilateral agreement of cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and the International Parliament for Safety and Peace of the States, new Society of the Nations.]</ref> After the [[War of Transnistria]], Moldova had sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the [[Transnistria]] region by working with [[Romania]], [[Ukraine]], and [[Russia]], calling for international mediation, and cooperating with the OSCE and UN fact-finding and observer missions. On [[October 1st]], [[2007]], the [[foreign minister]] of Moldova, [[Andrei Stratan]], said at UN that Russian troops are in Republic of Moldova against the will of the Moldovan Government.<ref name="astratan"/>
== Administrative divisions ==
{{main|Administrative divisions of Moldova}}
[[Image:moldadm.png|thumb|250px|Administrative divisions of Moldova]]
Moldova is divided into [[Districts of Moldova|thirty-two districts]] (''raioane'', singular ''[[raion]]''); three municipalities ([[Bălţi]], [[Chişinău]], [[Bender]]); and two autonomous regions ([[Găgăuzia]] and [[Transnistria]]). The cities of [[Comrat]] and [[Tiraspol]] also have municipality status, however not as first-tier subdivisions of Moldova, but as parts of the regions of Găgăuzia and Transnistria, respectively. The [[Disputed status of Transnistria|status of Transnistria]] is however under dispute. Although it is ''de jure'' part of Moldova and is recognized as such by the international community, Transnistria is not ''de facto'' under the control of the central government of Moldova. It is administered by an unrecognized breakaway authority under the name Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! # !! City !! Population !! Year </tr>
| 1. ||align="left"| [[Chişinău]]<ref name="gaz">World Gazetteer. [http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=gamelan&dat=200&srt=pnan&col=aohdqcfbeimg&geo=-136 Moldova: largest cities] 2004. Retrieved [[November 14|11-14]], [[2007]]</ref>|| 647,513 || 2005 </tr>
| 2. ||align="left"| [[Tiraspol]]<ref name="T cen">Pridnestrovie.net [http://pridnestrovie.net/2004census.html 2004 Census] 2004. Retrieved [[November 14|11-14]], [[2007]]</ref>|| 159,163 || 2004 </tr>
| 3. ||align="left"| [[Bălţi]]<ref name="gaz"/> || 122,778 || 2005 </tr>
| 4. ||align="left"| [[Bendery]]<ref name="T cen"/> || 97,027 || 2004 </tr>
| 5. ||align="left"| [[Rîbniţa]]<ref name="T cen"/>|| 53,648 || 2004 </tr>
|}
== Geography ==
{{main|Geography of Moldova}}
[[Image:Moldova.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Nistru]] valley view]]
The largest part of the country lies between two rivers, the [[Dniester]] and the [[Prut]]. Moldova's rich soil and [[temperate]] [[continental climate]] (with warm summers and mild winters) have made the country one of the most productive agricultural regions and a major supplier of agricultural products in the region. 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 meters (1,411 ft)—the highest point being the [[Dealul Bălăneşti]]. The country's main cities are the capital [[Chişinău]], in the center of the country, [[Tiraspol]] (in [[Transnistria]]), [[Bălţi]] and [[Tighina]].[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Moldova is shared between the Central European and Eastern European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]], the territory of Moldova can be subdivided into three [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Central European mixed forests]] (in the central part, the region called colloquially ''[[Codrii]]'', meaning "forests"), [[East European forest steppe]] (in the north, the ''[[Bălţi Steppe]]'') and [[Pontic steppe]] (in the south, connected to ''[[Bugeac]]'').
{{see also|List of cities in Moldova|List of localities in Moldova}}
== Economy ==
{{main|Economy of Moldova}}
[[Image:Moldawischer-Leu-01.jpg|thumb|right|Moldovan leu.]]
Moldova 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]]. The country is considered to have the cleanest air in the world.<ref name="Gruen">{{de icon}} GRÜN und lebenswert: ''[http://www.readers-digest.de/service_fuer_journalisten/fileadmin/documents/magazin/0710_Gruen_Artikel.pdf Eine Rangliste der besten (und schlechtesten) Länder]''</ref> Moldova must import all of its supplies of [[petroleum]], [[coal]], and [[natural gas]], largely from [[Russia]]. After the break up of the [[Soviet Union]] in 1991, energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines. As part of an ambitious economic liberalization effort, Moldova introduced a [[convertible currency]], liberalized all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises, backed steady land [[privatization]], removed export controls, and liberalized interest rates. The government entered into agreements with the [[World Bank]] and the [[International Monetary Fund|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 2007 (6%), in part because of the reforms and because of starting from a small base. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. In agriculture, the economic reform started with the [[Land cadastre in the Republic of Moldova|land cadastre reform]].
Following the [[Russian financial crisis|regional financial crisis in 1998]], Moldova has made significant progress towards achieving and retaining macroeconomic and financial stabilization. It has, furthermore, implemented many structural and institutional reforms that are indispensable for the efficient functioning of a market economy. These efforts have helped maintain macroeconomic and financial stability under difficult external circumstances, enabled the resumption of economic growth and contributed to establishing an environment conducive to the economy’s further growth and development in the medium term. Despite these efforts, and despite the recent resumption of economic growth, Moldova still ranks low in terms of commonly-used living standards and human development indicators in comparison with other transition economies. Although the economy experienced a constant economic growth after 2000: with 2.1%, 6.1%, 7.8% and 6.3% between 2000 and 2003 (with a forecast of 8% in 2004), one can observe that these latest developments hardly reach the level of 1994, with almost 40% of the [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] registered in 1990. Thus, during the last decade little has been done to reduce the country’s vulnerability. After a severe economic decline, social and economic challenges, energy uprooted dependencies, Moldova continues to occupy one of the last places among European countries in income per capita.
In 2005 (Human Development Report 2008), the registered GDP per capita US $ 2,100 [[Purchasing power parity|PPP]], which is 4.5 times lower than the world average (US $ 9,543). Moreover, GDP per capita is under the average of its statistical region (US $ 9,527 PPP). In 2005, about 20.8% of the population were under the absolute poverty line and registered an income lower than US $ 2.15 (PPP) per day. Moldova is classified as medium in human development and is at the 111th spot in the list of 177 countries. The value of the Human Development Index (0.708) is below the world average. Moldova remains the poorest country in Europe in terms of GDP per capita: $ 2,500 in 2006.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/md.html CIA - The World Factbook - Moldova] [[6 September]] [[2007]]</ref>
The GDP in 2007 constituted $4,104 mln.<ref name="GDP_MD_2007">[http://www.statistica.md/statistics/dat/1114/ro/res_util_alePIB_a2007pr.pdf 2007 evaluation]</ref> That constituted a grow with 3% from the 2006 indicator.
[[Image:MoldovanWine.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Moldovan wine bottles]]
===Wine===
{{main|Moldovan wine}}
Moldova is famous for its wines. For many years [[viticulture]] and [[winemaking]] in Moldova were the general occupation of the population. Evidence of this is present in historical memorials and documents, folklore, and the Moldovan spoken language.
The country has a well established [[wine]] industry. It has a vineyard area of {{convert|147000|ha}}, of which {{convert|102500|ha|abbr=on}} are used for commercial production. Most of the country's wine production is made for export. Many families have their own recipes and strands of [[grape]]s that have been passed down through the generations.
See also: [[Moldovan wine producers]]
<br clear="all" />
== Demographics ==
{{main|Demography of Moldova}}
[[Image:Major ethnics groups in Moldova 1989.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Ethnic composition in 1989.]]
===Ethnic composition===
The last reference data is that of the [[2004 Moldovan Census]]<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.statistica.md/recensamint.php?lang=ro Official results of 2004 Moldovan census]</ref> and the [[2004 Census in Transnistria]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! # !! Ethnicity !! Mold. census !! % Mold !! Transnistrian census !! % Tran !! Total !! %
|-
| 1. || [[Moldovans]] || 2,564,849 || 75.8% || 177,156 || 31.9% || 2,742,005 || 69.6%
|-
| 2. || [[Ukrainians]] || 282,406 || 8.3% || 159,940 || 28.8% || 442,346 || 11.2%
|-
| 3. || [[Russians]] || 201,218 || 5.9% || 168,270 || 30.3% || 369,488 || 9.4%
|-
| 4. || [[Gagauz people|Gagauzians]] || 147,500 || 4.4% || 11,107 || 2.0% || 158,607 || 4.0%
|-
| 5. || [[Romanians]] || 73,276 || 2.2% || NA || NA || 73,276 || 1.9%
|-
| 6. || [[Bulgarians]] || 65,662 || 1.9% || 11,107 || 2.0% || 76,769 || 1.9%
|-
| 7. || Others || 48,421 || 1.4% || 27,767 || 5.0% || 76,188 || 1.9%
|-
| 8. || '''TOTAL''' || '''3,383,332''' || '''100%''' || '''555,347''' || '''100%''' || '''3,938,679''' || '''100%'''
|}
===Religion===
{{main|Religion in Moldova}}
For the 2004 census, [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Christians]], who make up over 90% of Moldova's population, were not required to declare the particular church they belong to. The [[Moldovan Orthodox Church]], autonomous and subordinated to the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], and the [[Orthodox Church of Bessarabia]], autonomous and subordinated to the [[Romanian Orthodox Church]], both claim to be the national church of the country.
== Culture ==
[[Image:Eminescu.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Mihai Eminescu, national poet of Moldova and Romania]]
{{main|Culture of Moldova}}
Located geographically at the crossroads of Latin and Slavic cultures, Moldova has enriched its own culture adopting and maintaining some of the traditions of its neighbors.
Prince [[Dimitrie Cantemir]] was one of the most important figures of [[Moldavian]] culture of the 18th century. He wrote the first geographical, ethnographical and economic description of the country in his ''[[Descriptio Moldaviae]]'' ([[Berlin]], 1714).<ref>{{La icon}} ''[[:s:la:Descriptio Moldaviae|Descriptio Moldaviae]]'' at Latin Wikisource</ref>
[[Mihai Eminescu]] was a late [[Romanticism|romantic]] poet, probably the best-known and most influential [[Romanian language]] poet.
[[Eugen Doga]] is the most famous Moldovan contemporary [[composer]], whose works are recognized worldwide.
===Languages===
{{main|Moldovan language|Ukrainian language|Russian language|Gagauz language}}
The Constitution of Moldova, as well as all Moldovan laws declare the Moldovan language to be the state language.<ref name="Constitution">[http://xiv.parlament.md/en/legalfoundation/constitution/t1/ Article 13, line 1 - of Constitution of Republic of Moldova]</ref> Russian is provided with the status of a "language of interethnic communication". Ukrainian and Gagauz have significant regional speaker populations and are granted official status along with Russian in [[Transnistria]] and [[Gagauzia]] respectively.<ref>The law regarding approval of the National Political Conception of the Republic of Moldova stipulates that "''The conception is rooted in the historically established truth and confirmed by the common literary treasure: Moldovan nation and Romanian nation use a common literary form "which is based on the live spring of the popular talk from Moldova" - a reality which impregnates the national Moldovan language with a specific peculiar pronunciation, a certain well known and appreciated charm. Having the common origin; common basic lexical vocabulary, the national Moldovan language and national Romanian language keep each their lingvonim/glotonim as the identification sign of each nation: Moldovan and Romanian.
Moldovan language, having status of the state language, is used in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life. One of the priorities of the national politics of the Republic of Moldova is insurance of existence of the Moldovan language.
Russian language, which in accordance with the valid legislation has status of the interethnic communication, is also used in different fields of life of the society and of the state. Russian-Moldovan bilingualism is characteristic for Moldova. It is necessary, in present conditions, to create real possibilities to make sure the Russian-Moldovan bilingualism becomes the reality.
On the territory of the Autonomous Territorial Unit Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), the status of official language is awarded to Gagauz, Moldovan and Russian languages. In eastern districts of the Republic of Moldova function Moldovan, Ukrainian and Russian languages.''</ref><ref name="conceptia">{{ro icon}} [http://www.parlament.md/download/laws/ro/546-XV-19.12.2003.doc "Concepţia politicii naţionale a Republicii Moldova"] [[Moldovan Parliament]]</ref>
It is notable, that the declaration of independence of Moldova names "Romanian" the state language.<ref>[http://www.moldova-suverana.md/index.php?start_from=&ucat=7&subaction=showfull&id=1156426235&archive=1156767681& Declaraţia de independenţa a Republicii Moldova], [[Moldova Suverană]] {{mo}}</ref><ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/translation/language_aids/recognition/field_guide_main_languages_of_europe_en.pdf A Field Guide to the Main Languages of Europe - Spot that language and how to tell them apart], on the website of the [[European Commission]]</ref>
==Military==
* [[Military of Moldova]]
* [[Moldovan Ground Forces]]
* [[Moldovan Air Force]]
==See also==
{{Moldova topics}}
<!--== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Stefan Chisinau.jpg|Monument to [[Stephen III of Moldavia|Stephen the Great of Moldavia]]
Image:Chisinau Center.jpg|[[Triumphal Arch]], [[Chişinău]]
Image:Moldavian orthodox church.jpg|A Moldovan [[Orthodox church]]
Image:RoseValley Chisinau.JPG|''Rose Valley'', Chişinău
Image:Primaria Chisinau.jpg|Chişinău city hall
Image:SkyTower Chisinau.JPG|The ''Sky Tower'' building in the center of Chişinău
Image:Chi stefan park.jpg|''Ştefan cel Mare'' Central Park
Image:Chisinau Piata Centrala.JPG|Central market of Chişinău
</gallery>-->
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{portal|Moldova|Flag of Moldova.svg}}
{{WikinewsPortalMoldova}}
{{sisterlinks|Moldova}}
'''General'''
*[http://www.moldova.md/en/start/ Official site]
*[http://gov.gov.md/en/start/ Official governmental site]
*[http://www.parlament.md/en.html Official web site of the Parliament]
*[http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/moldova/intro/ The EU's relations with Moldova (European Commission site)]
*[http://www.mfa.md/ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
*[http://embassyrm.org/ Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in the United States of America]
*[http://moldova.usembassy.gov/ Embassy of the United States of America in the Republic of Moldova]
*[http://www.elections2005.md/ Elections in Moldova 2005]
*[http://www.alegeri.md/en/2007/ General Local Elections 2007]
*[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61664.htm U.S. Department of State 2005 report about Human Rights in Moldova]
*[http://www.scribd.com/doc/27529/Dimitrie-Cantemir-Descrierea-Moldovei Dimitrie Cantemir-Descrierea Moldovei]
'''Profiles'''
* [http://www.imf.org/external/country/MDA/index.htm International Monetary Fund: Republic of Moldova: Statistical Appendix]
* [http://foia.state.gov/MMS/postrpt/pr_view_all.asp?CntryID=100 U.S. Department of State Post Reports - Moldova]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/md.html CIA - The World Factbook - Moldova]
* [http://www.ecmimoldova.org ECMI - Information about Minority Issues in Moldova]
'''International rankings'''
* [[Bertelsmann]]: [http://www.bertelsmann-transformation-index.de/37.0.html?&L=1 Bertelsmann Transformation Index 2006], ranked 75th out of 119 countries
* [[Reporters without borders]]: [http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=554 Annual worldwide press freedom index (2005)], ranked 74th out of 167 countries
* [[The Wall Street Journal]]: [http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/ 2005] [[Index of Economic Freedom]], ranked 77th out of 155 countries
* [[The Economist]]: [http://www.economist.com/theworldin/international/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3372495&d=2005 The World in 2005 - Worldwide quality-of-life index, 2005], ranked 99th out of 111 countries
* [[Transparency International]]: [http://ww1.transparency.org/cpi/2005/cpi2005_infocus.html Corruption Perceptions Index 2005], ranked 88th out of 158 countries
* [[United Nations Development Programme]]: [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/ Human Development Index 2005], ranked 116th out of 177 countries
* [[World Economic Forum]]: [http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf/Content/Growth+Competitiveness+Index+rankings+2005+and+2004+comparisons Global Competitiveness Report 2005-2006 - Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking], ranked 82nd out of 117 countries
* [[World Bank]]: [http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreEconomies/Default.aspx?economyid=129 Doing Business 2006], ranked 83rd out of 155
* [[World Bank]]: [http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreEconomies/Default.aspx?economyid=129 Ease of Starting a Business 2006], ranked 69th out of 155
* [[United Nations|United Nations Conference on Trade and Development]]: [http://www.unctad.org/sections/dite_dir/docs/wir05_fs_ro_en.pdf Foreign Direct Investment Performance Index 2004], ranked 35th out of 140
'''Media'''
*[http://moldovaintheworld.com Moldova In The World - online journal]
*[http://www.moldpres.md/default.asp?Lang=en Moldpres - state owned news agency]
'''Others'''
*[http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/bisdoc/0602MDInvestmClimate.htm MOLDOVA 2006 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT]
* [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/10/c28fad55-44c3-4fcc-b3dc-73e93e4d8119.html Moldova: Young Women From Rural Areas Vulnerable To Human Trafficking]
*[http://www.ournet.md OurNet — Moldova Internet Resources]
*[http://www.mymoldova.info General Information about Moldova]
{{Template group
|title = Geographic locale
|list =
{{Administrative divisions of Moldova}}
{{Countries of Europe}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International organizations
|list =
{{Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)|state=collapsed}}
{{Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)}}
{{Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)}}
{{Council of Europe}}
{{Latin Union}}
{{GUAM countries}}
}}
[[Category:Moldova| ]]
[[Category:Landlocked countries|Moldova]]
[[Category:Russian-speaking countries and territories]]
[[Category:Romanian speaking countries and territories]]
[[Category:Ukrainian-speaking countries and territories]]
[[af:Moldawië]]
[[als:Moldawien]]
[[am:ሞልዶቫ]]
[[ar:مولدافيا]]
[[an:Republica de Moldabia]]
[[arc:ܡܘܠܕܘܒܐ]]
[[roa-rup:Moldova]]
[[frp:Moldavie (payis)]]
[[ast:Moldavia]]
[[az:Moldova]]
[[bn:মলদোভা]]
[[zh-min-nan:Moldova]]
[[be:Малдова]]
[[be-x-old:Малдова]]
[[bs:Moldavija]]
[[br:Moldova]]
[[bg:Молдова]]
[[ca:República de Moldàvia]]
[[cv:Молдави]]
[[ceb:Moldova]]
[[cs:Moldavsko]]
[[co:Moldavia]]
[[cy:Moldofa]]
[[da:Moldova]]
[[de:Moldawien]]
[[dv:މޮލްޑޯވާ]]
[[dsb:Moldawska]]
[[et:Moldova Vabariik]]
[[el:Μολδαβία]]
[[es:Moldavia]]
[[eo:Moldava Respubliko]]
[[eu:Moldavia]]
[[fa:مولداوی]]
[[fr:Moldavie]]
[[fy:Moldaavje]]
[[ga:An Mholdóiv]]
[[gv:Moldova]]
[[gd:Moldàibhia]]
[[gl:Moldova]]
[[ko:몰도바]]
[[haw:Molodowa]]
[[hy:Մոլդովա]]
[[hi:मोल्दाविया]]
[[hsb:Moldawska]]
[[hr:Moldova]]
[[io:Moldova]]
[[bpy:মোলদোভা]]
[[id:Moldova]]
[[ia:Moldavia]]
[[os:Молдави]]
[[is:Moldóva]]
[[it:Moldavia]]
[[he:מולדובה]]
[[jv:Moldavia]]
[[pam:Republic of Moldova]]
[[kn:ಮಾಲ್ಡೋವ]]
[[ka:მოლდოვა]]
[[kk:Молдова]]
[[kw:Moldova]]
[[ky:Молдова]]
[[ht:Moldavi]]
[[ku:Moldova]]
[[la:Respublica Moldavica]]
[[lv:Moldova]]
[[lb:Moldawien]]
[[lt:Moldavija]]
[[li:Moldavië]]
[[hu:Moldova]]
[[mk:Молдавија]]
[[mt:Moldova]]
[[ms:Moldova]]
[[nl:Moldavië (land)]]
[[nds-nl:Moldavië (laand)]]
[[ne:मोल्दोवा]]
[[ja:モルドバ]]
[[no:Moldova]]
[[nn:Moldova]]
[[nov:Moldova]]
[[oc:Moldàvia (estat)]]
[[uz:Moldova]]
[[pms:Moldavia]]
[[nds:Moldawien]]
[[pl:Mołdawia]]
[[pt:Moldávia]]
[[ro:Republica Moldova]]
[[rm:Moldavia]]
[[qu:Mulduwa]]
[[ru:Молдавия]]
[[se:Moldávia]]
[[sa:मोल्दोवा]]
[[sq:Moldavia]]
[[simple:Moldova]]
[[sk:Moldavsko]]
[[sl:Moldavija]]
[[sr:Молдавија]]
[[sh:Moldavija]]
[[fi:Moldova]]
[[sv:Moldavien]]
[[tl:Moldova]]
[[ta:மல்டோவா]]
[[th:ประเทศมอลโดวา]]
[[vi:Moldova]]
[[tg:Молдова]]
[[chr:ᎼᎸᏙᏩ]]
[[tr:Moldova]]
[[uk:Молдова]]
[[ur:مالڈووا]]
[[vec:Moldavia]]
[[vo:Moldovän]]
[[fiu-vro:Moldova]]
[[war:Moldavia]]
[[wo:Moldaawi]]
[[wuu:摩尔陶伐]]
[[yi:מאלדאוויע]]
[[zh-yue:摩爾多瓦]]
[[bat-smg:Moldavėjė]]
[[zh:摩尔多瓦]]