LocationSoutheastern Europe.
Area33,800 sq km (13,050 sq miles).
Population4.3 million (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density127.2 per sq km.
CapitalChisinau (Kishinev).
Population: 662,200 (official estimate 2004).
GovernmentRepublic since 1991. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
LanguageMoldovan (official), although considered to be virtually identical to Romanian. Russian is still the most widely-spoken language.
ReligionMostly Eastern Orthodox
Christian and other Christian denominations. A small amount of the population are Jewish.
TimeGMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Electricity220 volts AC, 50Hz. European plugs with two circular metal pins are used.
Head of GovernmentPrime Minister Vasile Tarlev since 2001.
Head of StatePresident Vladimir Voronin since 2001.
Recent HistoryThe Communist Party came to power in 2001 and were winners again in the most recent parliamentary elections in March 2005. The Moldovan parliament then returned President Voronin for a second term in April 2005, at which point he said he would focus on European integration, resolving the ongoing conflict with Transnistria and raising the standard of living.
TelephoneCountry code: 373. Local payphones are cheap and plentiful. They work by phonecards available at kiosks.
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators. Coverage is generally good all over the country.
InternetThere are Internet cafes in main towns.
MediaThe Moldovan constitution guarantees freedom of the press, but laws prohibit defamation and insulting the state. Political parties publish their own newspapers, which often criticize the government. Moldovan editions of Russian titles are among the most-popular Russian-language publications.
PostAll mail to and from Moldova may be subject to long delays. There are express mail services in Chisinau.
Post office hours: Daily 0900-2000.
Press• Russian language papers include
Kommersant Moldoviy,
Komsomolskaya Pravda, and
Nezavisimaya Moldova.
•
Timpul and
Flux are Moldovan.
Radio•
Teleradio-Moldova runs
Radio Moldova.
•
Radio Nova is a commercial station.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.
2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
7-8 Jan Moldovan Christmas.
8 Mar International Women's Day.
20 Apr Easter Monday (Orthodox).
1 May Labor Day.
9 May Victory and Commemoration Day.
27 Aug Independence Day.
31 Aug Limba Noastra (National Language Day).
2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
7-8 Jan Moldovan Christmas.
8 Mar International Women's Day.
28 Apr Easter Monday (Orthodox).
1 May Labor Day.
9 May Victory and Commemoration Day.
27 Aug Independence Day.
31 Aug Limba Noastra (National Language Day).
Contact Information:Ministry of Culture and TourismPiata Marii Adunari 1, Chisinau, MD 2033, Moldova
Tel: (22) 227 620.
Website:
www.turism.md Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in the UK5 Dolphin Square, Edensor Road, London W4 2ST, UK
Tel: (020) 8995 6818.
Website:
www.moldovanembassy.org.uk Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in the USA2101 S Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 667 1130
or 1137 (ext. 15 for consular section).
Webste:
www.embassyrm.org
Next Page »