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 About Moldova |
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Moldova’s landscape is a rolling steppe that slopes gradually south to the Black Sea.
This wine-growing country is rich in pastures and woods, and its fertile soil produces wheat, corn, barley, tobacco, sugar beets, soybeans. sunflower seeds, walnuts, apples, and other fruit. Beef and dairy cattle are raised, and beekeeping is widespread.
The Republic of Moldova occupies most of what has been historically known as Bessarabia. Its location contributed to its role as a crossroad between Asia and southern Europe, and as the victim of frequent warfare. Greeks, Romans, Huns, and Bulgars invaded the area, which in the 13th century became part of the Mongol empire. Under the celebrated leader Stefan the Great, an independent Moldovan state emerged briefly in the 14th century, but subsequently fell to the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century.
After the Russo-Turkish War of 1806-12, the eastern half of Moldova (Bessarabia) was relinquished to Russia, while Romanian Moldavia (west of the Prut River) remained under the domain of the Turks. Romania, which gained independence in 1878, took control of Russian-ruled Bessarabia in 1918. The Soviet Union never recognized this action and created an autonomous Moldavian republic on the east side of the Nistru River in 1924.
Following the carve-up of Romania in the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact between Hitler's Germany and Stalin's U.S.S.R. in 1940, Romania ceded Bessarabia to the Soviet Union. The U.S.S.R. established the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic by merging the autonomous republic east of the Dniester River and the annexed Bessarabian portion.
Stalin also stripped the three southern counties along the Black Sea coast from Moldova and incorporated them in Ukraine. Romania sought to regain Bessarabia by joining with Germany in the 1941 attack on the Soviet Union. However, Moldova was ceded back to Moscow at the end of World War II. The present boundary between Moldova and Romania was established in 1947.
In 1991 the Republic of Moldova declared its independence from the U.S.S.R. Moldova's transition to democracy initially was impeded by an ineffective Parliament, the lack of a new constitution, a separatist movement led by the Gagauz (Christian Turkic) minority in the south, and unrest in the Transnistria region on the left bank of the Nistru River, where a separatist movement declared a "Transdniester Moldovan Republic" in 1990. In 1992, the government negotiated a cease-fire arrangement with Russian and Transnistrian officials, although tensions continue, and negotiations are ongoing. In February 1994, legislative elections were held, and the ineffective Parliament that had been elected in 1990 to a 5-year term was replaced. A new constitution was adopted in July 1994.
The Moldovan parliament granted autonomous status to the Turkic-language speaking Gagauz region in the southwest of the republic in late 1994. It has powers over its own political, economic and cultural affairs.
Since 1995 Moldova has been a member of the Council of Europe and sees its future in increased partnership with Europe. It also participates in NATO's Partnership for Peace program. Within the Commonwealth of Independent States, Moldova maintains economic and trade cooperation with other former Soviet republics. |
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Location |
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Located in southeastern Europe close to the Black Sea, Moldava is a landlocked country bordering Ukraine to the north, east and south, and Romania to the west.
The largest part of the country lies between two rivers, the Nistru and Prut. The Prut joins the Danube before flowing into the Black Sea. In the north-east, the Nistru is the main river, flowing through the country from north to south. |
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Population |
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With an estimated population of close to 4,500,000, and a small territory, Moldova is one of the most highly populated republics of the former Soviet Union.
Two-thirds of Moldovans are of Romanian descent, and the two countries share a common cultural heritage. Other sizable groups living in Moldova are Ukrainians and Russians. In addition, there are minority populations of Gagauz, Jews, Bulgarians, and Transnistrians.
The great majority of Moldova's population is Christian Orthodox, belonging to one of the two main Orthodox denominations. The Moldovan Orthodox Church, an autonomous diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and loyal to the Patriarch of Moscow, has over 1,000 parishes. The Bessarabian Orthodox Church, affiliated with the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate in Bucharest, has approximately 125 parishes. In addition, there are followers of the Old Rite Russian Orthodox Church (Old Believers), Judaism, and Protestantism. |
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Language |
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Moldovan, the official language, is virtually the same as Romanian. In addition, Russian, and Gagauz, a Turkish dialect, are spoken.
In 1940, after Soviet annexation, the Cyrillic script was introduced. In 1989 the Latin alphabet was reintroduced. Russian remains a widely spoken language. |
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Education |
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Education in Moldova is divided to five basic categories: preschool, primary and secondary, vocational secondary, higher education, and post-graduate. The languages of instruction are Romanian and Russian.
Many international, private schools operate in Moldova. |
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Weather |
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Moldova has a temperate, continental climate, with warm summers, and mild winters.
The country’s proximity to the Black Sea contributes to its mild and sunny climate. Average daily temperatures in January are between 23 and 27F (-4 to -7C), and in July generally range from 68 to occasionally 104F (25 to 40C). |
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Money and Cost of Living |
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Moldova is the poorest country in Europe. Like many of the former Soviet republics, Moldova has experienced difficult economic challenges. Its economy was highly dependent on the former Soviet Union for energy and raw materials, and following the breakup of the Soviet Union, the breakdown in trade was a serious blow. At times, drought and civil conflict aggravated difficulties. The devaluation of the Russian ruble in 1998 also had a deleterious effect on Moldova's economy.
Since 2000, economic growth has been steady. Government policies have liberalized most prices and phased out subsidies on most basic consumer goods. A program begun in March 1993 privatized 80% of all housing units and nearly 2,000 enterprises. The country recorded its fifth consecutive year of positive GDP growth in 2004, with year-end real GDP growth of 8%. This growth is impressive considering that, prior to 2000, Moldova had recorded only one year of positive GDP growth since independence in 1991.
Banking hours are Mon-Fri 0930-1730. |
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Currency |
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Molodova’s monetary unit is the leu, with 1 leu (MDL) = 100 bani. Notes are in denominations of MDL500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 bani. |
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Health |
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Medical insurance is strongly recommended. There are a number of large medical institutions in Chisinau, but in general, medical facilities are inadequate. There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK for urgent medical treatment. Otherwise, all services and prescriptions are charged for, and physicians and hospitals often expect cash for service.
No vaccinations are required to enter Moldova, but is recommended to be up-to-date on immunizations for hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus-diptheria, measles, and rabies.
People who visit or work in forested areas during the summer months, and who consume unpasteurized dairy products may be a risk for tickborne encephalitis, a viral infection of the central nervous system. Precautions should be taken to prevent tick bites. Other infections that may occur are tuberculosis, and hepatitis C.
People moving to Moldova may be required to produce proof of HIV-negative status.
Tap water is generally chlorinated, but bottled water is available and advised. Local meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. |
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Weights and Measures |
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Moldova uses the metric system, with units of measure in grams and kilograms, and milliliters and liters. |
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Electricity |
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Moldova uses 220v and 50Hz electricity. |
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