ABSTRACT
The Republic of Moldova, formerly known as Moldavia, came into being as a result of the dis integration of the Soviet Union in 1991. A parliamentary republic, it is situated in southeastern Europe in the Black Sea basin and borders on Romania in the west and Ukraine in the east. It covers 33,700 square kilometres (13,000 square miles) and has a population of 4.5 million people. Just over one-third of the population are minorities: 14 per cent Ukrainian, 13 per cent Russian, 4.5 per cent Gagauz (Turkish) and 2 per cent Bulgarian. The majority of the population has Romanian roots and contacts with Romania have remained strong. Romanian, in fact, is the country’s offi cial language.
