November 2008
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
His Excellency
Nicolae Chirtoaca,
Ambassador to the
United States for Moldova
Facts about Moldova
The Office of International Affairs
& Diplomacy actively supports
UVU’s global engagement efforts
by advancing UVU’s presence
and prestige in the international
community; helping UVU
students become globally
competent graduates; promoting
cultural literacy and diversity both
on campus and in the community.
Ambassador of Moldova to the United States
Nicolae Chirtoaca presented his credentials to the president of the United States
on September 12, 2006.
At the beginning of the “perestroika” period he joins the movement for democracy and national liberation of Moldova.
In 1990 he is appointed to head the Ministry of Defense. He takes an active part
in the creation of the National Army of
Moldova being the author of the main laws as well as of the Conception of the creation of the Armed Forces. From 1992 until 1994 he
serves as the National Security Advisor to the President of Moldova.
In February 1994 he retired from the National Armed Forces and from
the Office of the president for political reasons.
He is one of the founders of the Liberal Party of Moldova. From 1994
to 1998 he is the Vice-Chairman, Member of the Managing Board of
the Party. In 1999 he returns to the state service and became the Senior
State Adviser to the Prime Minister, pres secretary of the Government.
CONTACT US:
Office of International Affairs
and Diplomacy
800 West University Parkway
MS 263
Orem, UT 84058
Phone: 801-863-8897
Fax: 801-863-6021
E-mail: [email protected]
In the meantime he is the member of the Soros Foundation Moldova
Managing Board and the director of the Invisible College of Moldova,
the center of excellence in social sciences and humanities. From January 1994 until August 2006 Mr. Chirtoaca is the president of the managing board of the Euro-Atlantic Center of Moldova, an independent
think tank specialized in the problems of political and international relations of Moldova, international security, European integration of the
country.
Moldova
•
Moldova, officially the Republic of
Moldova, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to
the west and Ukraine to the north, east and
south. The capital of Moldova is Chisinau
(Kishinev).
•
The population of Moldova is 4,324,450
(July 2008 est.) The dominant ethnic
group in Moldova is Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian - 8.4%, Russian - 5.8%,
Gagauz - 4.4%, Bulgarian - 1.9%, other
1.3% (2004 census).
•
The most spread religion in the Republic of
Moldova is Eastern Orthodox - 98%. Jewish -1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000).
•
Moldovan is the official language, it is virtually the same as Romanian language.
Other languages spoken in Moldova are
Russian and Gagauz (a Turkish dialect).
•
Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but
has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the
economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco.
•
Moldova is famous for its wines. For many
years viticulture and winemaking in Moldova
were the general occupation of the population.
The country has a vineyard area of
147,000 hectares (360,000 acres), of which
102,500 ha (253,000 acres) are used for commercial production.
•
•
Moldova's climate is temperate continental climate, with warm summers
and mild winters. This generous climate and rich soil of Moldova have
made it one of the most productive
agricultural regions and a major supplier of agricultural products in the
region.
Some elements of Moldovan cuisine
have been incorporated from Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Gagauzian and Russian cuisine, as well as elements
taken some centuries ago from Greek and Turkish food.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Ambassador of Moldova
Lecture at UVU
November 17, 2008
9.00 a.m., LA 219
The flag of the Republic of
Moldova is a vertical tricolor of
blue, yellow, and red, charged with
the coat of arms of Moldova on the
center bar on the obverse side only.
The coat of arms of Moldova is an
eagle holding a shield charged with
an aurochs. The blue, red, and yellow tricolor of Moldova is almost
identical to the flag of Romania,
reflecting the two countries' cultural
affinity. Like the Romanian coat of
arms, the Moldovan arms, adopted
in 1990, features a golden eagle
holding an Orthodox Christian cross
in its beak. Instead of a sword, the
eagle is holding an olive branch,
symbolizing peace. The blue and red
shield on the eagle's breast has an
aurochs head, a star, a rose, and a
crescent on it, all traditional symbols of Moldova.
Along with the flag of Paraguay and
the flag of Saudi Arabia, the flag of
Moldova is one of the few national
flags with differing obverse and
reverse sides