Moldova
 Flag of Moldova | |
| Capital | Chișinău |
| Inhabitants | 3.300.000 |
| Language(s) | Romanian("Moldovan") |
Formerly ruled by Romania, Moldova became part of the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Nistru (Dnister) River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe and plagued by a moribund economy, in 2001 Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a communist as its president.
Contents |
History
This naturally favorable land was populated since Paleolithic epoch. From archeological excavations we know that there were living people 7000 years BC on this territory. You can find the proof in a very interesting archeological museum in Chisinau city.
Today Moldova occupies most of what has been known as Bess Arabia, which represents less of the half of the historical Moldova. For many centuries Moldova was the victim of frequent warfare. The main reason was because Moldova's important location - a historic passageway between Asia and Europe. Romans, Huns, Tatars, Turks, Hungarians, Germans and many others passed through that land known as "The Gate" between the Carpathians and the Black Sea, which in the 13th century became part of the Mongol Empire. Moldova emerged as an independent state in the 14th century. The first document referring to the "Land of Moldova" dates back to 1359 AD. In 1391 AD, the ethnic group "Moldova's" was mentioned for the first time.
In the 16th century, Ottoman Empire conquered the Moldova State. The Turkish yoke lasted for almost 300 years.
After the Russo-Turkish War of 1806-12, the eastern half of Moldova (Bess Arabia) between the Prut and the Dniester Rivers was ceded to Russia, while today's Romanian Moldova (west of the Prut) remained with the Turks. Romania, which gained independence in 1878, took control of the Russian half of Moldova in 1918. The Soviet Union never recognized the seizure and in 1924 created an autonomous Moldavian republic on the East Side of the Dniester River as part of the Soviet Ukraine, USSR.
In August 1940, the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic was declared a member of Soviet Union. But during World War II, for several years the territory of the republic formed part of Romania. After the war this land became again part of the Soviet Union. The soviet administration decided to give the southern and northern parts to Ukraine and Transdniestria to present Moldova. During the 1950's many Russian teachers, doctors, engineers have been brought to Moldova, Latin alphabet been changed into the Cyrillic one.
In late 80s in Moldova began the national liberation movements. The proclamation of the Moldovan language as the official language was on August 31, 1989. On August 27, 1991, the Republic of Moldova gained its independence and became sovereign state. Independence did not come without its drawbacks. As a result, Moldova has faced two ethnic conflicts and the short but bloody civil war of 1992. Moldova's internal struggle began when the ethnic Russian minority on the eastern side of the Dniester River rose up against the government. The aria to the left from the river Dniester has declared itself an autonomous state: the "Trans-Dniester Republic", which was not recognized by any other country in the world. This little sliver of land is one of the last places in the world that practices a pure Stalinist form of government. It is like stepping back in time to the years prior to perestroika and glasnost.
Political system
During its ten years of independency Moldova government has changed several times. The Republic has become member of the United Nations in March 2, 1992. In August of 1994 parliament passes a new Constitution of the Republic of Moldova that granted substantial autonomy to Transdniestria and the "Gagauz Republic", while reasserting Moldovan national identity and sovereignty. In July 1995 Moldova was admitted to the Council for Europe, being the first CIS country which admission was offered. On July 1, 1998 was adopted the Agreement for Partnership and Cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union. In 2001 Moldova became member of the World Trade Organization.
This small country faces many problems on the road to democracy and free market economy, but as any other change needs adjustment, Republic of Moldova will learn to overcome the barriers to its stable growth.
Culture
If, as PJ O'Rourke paraphrases, 'Russia is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma, tied in a hankie, rolled in a blanket and packed in a box full of Styrofoam peanuts', then Moldova, with its cultural ties to Russia, Romania and Turkey, is even more of an puzzle. It has risen from the ruins of Soviet socialism to become a democratic republic split in two, one area controlled by the government and the other by separatist rebels loyal to Mother Russia; it has few cities but is one of the most populated countries; unification with Romania, its closest neighbour, is an on-again-off-again issue and yet it has more in common with other former Soviet countries; the official language, Moldovan, is phonetically identical to Romanian, while Transdriestran schools and universities are all taught in Russian. Moldova actively encourages entrepreneurial flair and closer ties to Western economies but is still hobbled to the Russian rouble; it's got all the ingredients for a successful tourism industry but is less developed than other Eastern European countries; Moldovans are gregarious people but make some of the surliest hotel staff in the world. Everything in Moldova has an equal and opposite reaction, which makes it either one of the most balanced of countries or one of the most confusing.
War and religion play a big part in the Moldovan psyche, and it has a fistful of monasteries, ancient fortresses, wooden churches and war memorials to prove it. These architectural and cultural museums are supplemented by medieval frescoes of Madonnas, princes, crosses, anonymous churchy folk and a range of gilded iconography that immediately makes you think of Russia. Literature, art, music and dancing are also pretty big in Moldova. Folk dancing is similar to other Eastern European folk dancing; all dirndls, bonnets and elaborately embroidered tunics, with partners moving in circles or sinuous lines to the sound of bagpipes, flutes, panpipes and violins. Sort of like sedate square dancing without the Stetsons and whoopin 'n' hollerin'. And when all the praying and dancing are done with, Moldova has some of the best and biggest vineyards in Eastern Europe. Wine and wine tasting are an integral part of Moldovan life.
It's fortunate that the wine is so good because Moldova has inherited the Russian anti-style of cooking: meat done to a consistent grey and vegetables boiled to a watery pulp and sculpted into forms resembling Soviet-style monoliths. The ubiquitous Romanian mamaliga (soft cornmeal mush) appears on most menus along with Turkish sasliks, kebabs and baclavas. Some of the better dishes include Russian dumplings in mushroom sauce and hearty Jewish stews. One uniquely Moldovan speciality is tochitura Moldoveneasca, pan-fried pork in a spicy pepper sauce served with mamaliga and topped with fried egg. If you've got a cast-iron stomach and feel particularly adventurous you might want to try some of the dishes at the Cactus Cafe in downtown Chisinau, where time is saved by serving main meal and desserts on the one plate.
Events
coming soon...
National holidays
- Jan 1: New Year's Day
- Jan 7-8: Orthodox Christmas
- Mar 1: Martsishor
- Mar 8: International Women's Day
- Apr 27: Memorial Day
- May 1: Labor Day
- May 9: Victory Day
- Aug 27: National Day
- Aug 31: National Language Day
- Orthodox Easter
Embassies
- Embassy of Belarus in Chisinau, Moldova - Str. Bucuresti 72, tel. (+373-2) 23 34 91, fax (+373-2) 22 05 71.
- Embassy of Bulgary in Chisinau, Moldova - Str. 31 August 125, tel. (+373-2) 23 79 83, fax (+373-2) 23 79 78.
- Embassy of China in Chisinau, Moldova - Str. Ciresilor 56, tel. (+373-2) 73 35 04/73 35 24, fax (+373-2) 73 35 67.
- Embassy of France in Chisinau, Moldova - Str. 31 August 101, tel. (+373-2) 22 82 04, fax (+373-2) 22 82 24.
- Embassy of Germany in Chisinau, Moldova
- Embassy of Hungary in Chisinau, Moldova - B-dul Stefan cel Mare 131, tel. (+373-2) 22 34 04/22 77 86, fax (+373-2) 22 45 13.
- Consular Office of Israel in Chisinau, Moldova - Str. Tighina 12, tel. (+373-2) 54 42 82, fax (+373-2) 54 42 80.
- Consular Office of Netherlands in Chisinau, Moldova - Str. Maria Cibotari 16 (Republican Palace, entrance on Strada Nicholae Iorga), tel. (+373-2) 23 27 42/23 23 46, fax (+373-2) 23 27 42/23 47 69.
- Embassy of Poland in Chisinau, Moldova - Str. Plamadeala 3, tel. (+373-2) 54 49 30/54 49 31,
fax (+373-2) 54 49 32.
- Embassy of Romania in Chisinau, Moldova - Str. Bucuresti 66/1, tel. (+373-2) 23 75 83/23 34 34,
fax (+373-2) 23 34 69.
- Embassy of Russia in Chisinau, Moldova - B-dul Stefan cel Mare 151, tel. (+373-2) 24 82 25/24 91 24, fax (+373-2) 54 77 51.
- Embassy of Turkey in Chisinau, Moldova - Str. Alexei Mateevici 57, tel. (+373-2) 24 52 92/24 26 08,
fax (+373-2) 22 55 28.
- Embassy of Ukraine in Chisinau, Moldova
- Embassy of the United States of America in Chisinau, Moldova
