Transnistria

In the region east of the Dniester river, Transnistria, which includes a large proportion of predominantly Russophone ethnic Russians and Ukrainians (51%, as of 1989, with ethnic Moldovans forming a 40% plurality), and where the headquarters and many units of the Soviet 14th Guards Army were stationed, an independent “Transdnestrian Moldovan Republic” (TMR) was proclaimed on August 16, 1990, with its capital in Tiraspol.^[37] The motives behind this move were fear of the rise of nationalism in Moldova and the country’s expected reunification with Romania upon secession from the USSR. In the winter of 1991-1992 clashes occurred between Transnistrian forces, supported by elements of the 14th Army, and the Moldovan police. Between March 2 and July 26, 1992, the conflict escalated into a military engagement.

The Russian military remains in the breakaway region east of the Dniester to this day, despite Russia having signed international agreements to withdraw, and against the will of Moldovan government.The postwar status quo remains to this day: Chişinău offers extensive autonomy, while Tiraspol demands independence. De jure, Transnistria is internationally recognized as part of Moldova, but de facto, the authorities in Chişinău do not exercise any control over that territory.

Komrat

Komrat (rum. Comrat, gag. Komrat) – a town in southern Moldova, on the river Jałpuch, the main center Gagauzji, wishing uniezależnić from Moldova. A town received in 1957. In 2004, numbered about 36 thousand. residents. The wine, a product of carpets; museum. There is a university where you can meet not only local students but also young people from Turkey.

Religion

* Eastern Orthodox 98%
* Judaism 1.5%
* Baptist 0.5%

98% of the population is defined as the Orthodox (faithful to the Romanian Orthodox Church Prawosławnej or Russian)

Regions

* Gagauzia – autonomous zone in the south of the Turkish Gagauz.
* Transnistria – renegade province to the east.

Foreign relations

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.^[42] 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.

Iaşi

Iaşi (pronounced yash) has an energy and depth of character that would be instantly giddying if one had the power to see through concrete. Those without this endowment will need a few days to pinpoint the numerous joys of Romania’s second largest city. Iaşi’s past as Moldavia’s capital since 1565 has resulted in a city dotted with fabulous buildings, important monasteries, parks and unpretentious cultural treasures. As one of Romania’s largest university towns, its population seemingly doubles during the academic year when students from around the country flood the streets with a liveliness that defies their position in one of Romania’s poorest provinces. The youthful, cosmopolitan atmosphere, fuelled partly by thousands of foreign students, is quickly extinguishing the lingering socialist ways and blasé attitude of the town’s service industry. Moreover, it’s the perfect staging area for travellers heading into Moldova, 20km away.

When to Go

October’s wine festival (with its visa-free regime) is an especially tempting time to visit Moldova, though spring and summer are best for city strolling and hiking in remote areas. May through to August can also be pleasant, although you run the risk of a snow flurry or two and low temperatures early in the season. Winters are fairly temperate, especially near the coast, but again, in the unpredictable mountains be prepared for virtually any conditions.

Chişinău

Chişinău (IPA: [ki.ʃi.'nəw]) (also known as Kishinev, Russian: Кишинёв, Kishinyof), is the capital city and industrial and commercial centre of Moldova. It is also the largest city of Moldova and is located in the centre of the country, on the river Bîc. Economically, the city is the most prosperous in Moldova and is one of the main industrial centres and transportation hubs of the region. As the most important city in Moldova, Chişinău has a broad range of educational facilities. Additionally, the city has among the highest proportion of green spaces of any major city in Europe.

Moldova

Moldova, or, in full, the Republic of Moldova (rarely, Moldavia; Moldovan: Moldova, Republica Moldova) is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east and south. The country is a parliamentary democracy with a president as its head of state and a prime minister as its head of government. The official state language is Moldovan^[1], identical in its literary form to Romanian. Russian is also widely spoken and is the native language for 11% of the population.^[3] The capital and largest city of Moldova is Chişinău.

In the Middle Ages, most of the present territory of Moldova was part of the Principality of Moldavia, and was annexed^[4][5][6] from the latter, then a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, by the Russian Empire in 1812, under the name of Bessarabia. Upon the dissolution of the Russian Empire in 1917-1918, Bessarabia joined Romania. In 1940, Bessarabia 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^[7] Russian military forces have remained on Moldovan territory; since 1993 they have been stationed in the breakaway republic of Transnistria.

Moldova is a member state of the United Nations, WTO, OSCE, GUAM, CIS, BSEC and other international organizations. Moldova has officially been a neutral country since its independence, and an early member of the NATO Partnership for Peace. Moldova currently aspires to join the European Union^[8] and is implementing its first three-year Action Plan within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) of the EU.