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Moldova is a picturesque country - all rolling green hills, whitewashed villages, placid lakes and sunflower fields - with an old-world charm that's hard to manufacture. Oh, and those vineyards. Go see it before it becomes completely Pepsified.
Nothing in Moldova succeeds like secession. This newly formed ex-Soviet republic is in constant danger of being whittled away to nothing. Republicans struggle to keep all the pieces together and smooth over the contradictions of being part Romanian, part Russian, and wholly Moldovan. |
Area: 33,843 sq km
Population: 4.44 million
Capital City: Chisinau
People: Moldavian-Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Bulgarian 2% Jewish 1.5%, others (Belarusians, Poles and Roma 1.7%)
Language: Moldavian, Russian, Gagauzi
Religion: Eastern Orthodox (98.5%), Jewish (1.5%)
Government: Chisinau
Head of State: President Vladimir Voronin
Head of Government: Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev
GDP: US$11.51 billion
GDP per capita: US$2,600
Annual Growth: -8%
Inflation: 18%
Major Industries: agriculture, viniculture, food processing
Major Trading Partners: Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Romania, Germany
Member of EU: No
