The Principality of Moldavia was bounded by the Carpathian Mountains in the west, the Dniester River in the east, and the Danube River and Black Sea to the south. 8b/2013 i 41b/2013)", "Population Census 2004: Population by main nationalities, mother tongue and language usually spoken", National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova, "Structure of population by language usually used for communication and age groups on 2014 census", "English the most preferred foreign language among Moldovan students", "DN Carnevale - A Context-Grounded Approach to Religious Freedom: The Case of Orthodoxy in the Moldovan Republic", "2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Moldova", "Bologna Process Template for National Reports: 20052007 (Moldova)", "Romnia ofer tinerilor moldoveni 5.000 de burse n licee i universiti", "Presedintele Klaus Iohannis l-a primit, la Suceava, pe Nicolae Timofti: "Republica Moldova isi poate implini destinul doar in Uniunea Europeana. Slavic languages had a big impact on . Russian was used in relations with citizens from other parts of the Soviet Union. [52][53] The newly Soviet Russia did not recognize Romanian rule over Bessarabia, considering it an occupation of Russian territory. Moldova received official recognition on 25 December. Mihai Eminescu, a late Romantic poet, and Ion Creang, a writer, are the most influential Romanian language artists, considered national writers both in Romania and Moldova. [75] In March 2012, Nicolae Timofti was elected as president of Moldova in a parliamentary vote, becoming the first full-time president since Vladimir Voronin, a Communist, resigned in September 2009. After achieving independence from the Soviet Union, Moldova's foreign policy was designed with a view to establishing relations with other European countries, neutrality, and European Union integration. In 1971, the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted a decision "About the measures for further development of the city of Kishinev" (modern Chiinu), that allotted more than one billion roubles (approximately 6.8 billion in 2018 US dollars) from the USSR budget for building projects.[62]. During the periods 1812-1917 and 194489, Moldovans were influenced by Russian and Soviet administrative control as well and by ethnic Russian immigration.[222]. These include education, infrastructure, financial sector, business climate, energy consumption, pension system, and judicial framework. Germany's broadcaster Deutsche Welle also raised concerns about the alleged influence of Moldovan oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc over the Filip government. [27] The Bolohoveni disappeared from written chronicles after they were defeated in 1257 by Daniel of Galicia. Although only 4.1% are ethnic Russians, Russian is still used as the main language by 14.5% of the total population. Structural fiscal reforms would help safeguard sustainability. [227], Most retail businesses close on New Year's Day and Independence Day, but remain open on all other holidays. By ethnic composition, the population of Transnistria was distributed as follows: Russians - 29.1%, Moldovans - 28.6%, Ukrainians - 22.9%, Bulgarians - 2.4%, Gagauzians - 1.1%, Belarusians - 0.5%, Transnistrian - 0.2%, other nationalities - 1.4%. [143] Game animals, such as red deer, roe deer and wild boar can be found in these wooded areas. [140], Phytogeographically, Moldova is split between the East European Plain and the PonticCaspian steppe of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom. The early 2000s also saw a considerable growth of emigration of Moldovans looking for work (mostly illegally) in Russia (especially the Moscow region), Italy, Portugal, Spain, and other countries; remittances from Moldovans abroad account for almost 38% of Moldova's GDP, the second-highest percentage in the world, after Tajikistan (45%).[68][69]. [144] The movement is national representative of the Center "Naturopa" of the Council of Europe and United Nations Environment Programme of the United Nations. Article 13 of the Moldovan Constitution names it "the national language of the country" (the . Rugby union is popular as well. In August 2013, work began on a new pipeline between Moldova and Romania that may eventually break Russia's monopoly on Moldova's gas supplies. Moldova is one of the poorest countries in. Among most prominent classical musicians in Moldova are Maria Bieu, one of the leading world's sopranos and the winner of the Japan International Competition; pianist Mark Zeltser, winner of the USSR National Competition, Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition in Paris and Busoni Competition in Bolzano, Italy. [166] [58], In the postwar period, the Soviet government organized the immigration of working age Russian speakers (mostly Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians), into the new Soviet republic, especially into urbanized areas, partly to compensate for the demographic loss caused by the war and the emigration of 1940 and 1944. The country of Moldova has developed a fascinating and varied culture over hundreds of years, heavily influenced by European, Balkan, and Russian cultures, that has been celebrated and appreciated by both locals and tourists alike. [190], The 1991 Declaration of Independence names the official language Romanian. In line with FSAP recommendations, significant weaknesses in the legal and regulatory frameworks must be urgently addressed to ensure stability and soundness of the financial sector. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for College Slavic Treasures University of Kansas KU Jayhawks Diner Village Figurine at the best online prices at eBay! The urbanization rate was 69.9%. That, plus about 10,000Poles, brings the total number of Slavs to 545,000 in a population of 2,631,000, or about one-fifth. Post-Soviet . The official language is Romanian. In the south, the country has a small flatland, the Bugeac Plain. Trnt (a form of wrestling) is the national sport in Moldova. In 2013 more than 60% of schoolchildren took it as their first foreign language. [85] This new government was also supported by Igor Dodon. In 1878, as a result of the Treaty of Berlin, Romania was forced to cede the three counties back to the Russian Empire. This gesture was to have unexpected consequences: Petru supplied the Polish ruler with funds needed in the war against the Teutonic Knights, and was granted control over Pokuttya until the debt was to be repaid; as this is not recorded to have been carried out, the region became disputed by the two states, until it was lost by Moldavia in the Battle of Obertyn (1531). The Moldovan Intelligence and Security Service has estimated that 600,000 to one million Moldovan citizens (almost 25% of the population) are working abroad. [123], Moldova signed the Association Agreement with the European Union in Brussels on 27 June 2014. The Soviet government conducted a campaign to promote a Moldovan ethnic identity distinct from that of the Romanians, based on a theory developed during the existence of the Moldavian ASSR. Moldova is divided into 32 districts (raioane, singular raion), three municipalities and two autonomous regions (Gagauzia and the Left Bank of the Dniester). [122] The ex-Romanian President Traian Bsescu stated that Romania will make all efforts for Moldova to join the EU as soon as possible. 5 3 Martin Levine The Slavs speak mainly Indo-European Slavic Language. Main dishes include beef, pork, potatoes, cabbage, and a variety of cereals. Around 50% of ethnic Ukrainians, 33% of Gagauz, 33% of Bulgarians, and 5.7% of Moldovans declared Russian as their daily use language. Likewise, Traian Bsescu declared that the unification of Moldova with Romania is the next national project for Romania, as more than 75% of the population speaks Romanian. In the 11th century, a Viking by the name of Rodfos was possibly killed in the area by the Blakumen who betrayed him. As part of this process, the Tsarist administration in Bessarabia gradually removed the Moldavian language from official and religious use.[36]. [55] On 28 June 1940, the Soviet Union issued an ultimatum to Romania requesting the cession of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina, with which Romania complied the following day. Government "banned all gatherings of over 50 people until 1 April 2020 and closed all schools and kindergartens in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus". Slavs are Indo-European ethnolinguistic groups in Europe. [216], Public expenditure on health was 4.2% of the GDP and private expenditure on health 3.2%. Moldova's pro-Western and pro-Russian factions became increasingly divided since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Moldova River Declaring itself a neutral state, Moldova did not join the military branch of the CIS. 36 din 05.12.2013 privind interpretarea articolului 13 alin. Colonization brought in numerous Great Russian peasants, and the Russian bureaucracy imported Russian office-holders and professional men; according to the Romanian estimate of 1920, there were about 75,000 (2.9%) Great Russians in the territory, and the Lipovans and Cossacks numbered 59,000 (2.2%); the Little Russians (Ukrainians) came to 254,000 (9.6%). [80] Concerns over statewide corruption, the independence of the judiciary system, and the nontransparency of the banking system were expressed. [218] According to a 2009 study, Moldova was struggling with one of the highest incidence rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the world. In 2015 a new musical project by the name of Carla's Dreams has risen in popularity around Moldova. The Ministry reported no people were hurt but the windows of several residential homes were shattered. When in May 1600, Michael the Brave removed Ieremia Movil from Moldavia's throne by winning the battle of Bacu, briefly reuniting under his rule Moldavia, Wallachia, and Transylvania, a Polish army led by Jan Zamoyski drove the Wallachians from Moldavia. Moldova made its Olympic debut at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Nevertheless, Moldavia was subject to further Hungarian interventions after that moment, as Matthias Corvinus deposed Aaron and backed Alexndrel to the throne in Suceava. (1) din Constituie n corelaie cu Preambulul Constituiei i Declaraia de Independen a Republicii Moldova (Sesizrile nr. In 1994, Moldova became a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program, and a member of the Council of Europe on 29 June 1995. Its identity with the Romanian language was also established. Drago established a polity as a vassal to the Kingdom of Hungary in the 1350s. In addition, 7.0% of the population declared themselves Romanians, amid the controversy over ethnic and linguistic identity in Moldova. [208], The CIA World Factbook lists widespread crime and underground economic activity among major issues in Moldova. EUBAM assists the Moldovan and Ukrainian governments in approximating their border and customs procedures to EU standards and offers support in both countries' fight against cross-border crime. The total land area is 33,851km2 (13,070sqmi). [28] The Polish state was powerful enough to counter the Hungarian Kingdom which was consistently interested in bringing the area that would become Moldavia into its political orbit. [175], On 6 June 2012, the Government approved the licensing of 4G / LTE for mobile operators. Following a period of political instability and massive public protests, a new government led by Pavel Filip was invested in January 2016. In August 1939, the MolotovRibbentrop Pact and its secret additional protocol were signed, by which Nazi Germany recognized Bessarabia as being within the Soviet sphere of influence, which led the latter to actively revive its claim to the region. It is an interesting process. In February, Moldova, a country of 3.5 million squeezed between Ukraine and Romania, held an inconclusive parliamentary election. [58] Similar events occurred in the 1930s in the Moldavian ASSR. Moldova is committed to a number of international and regional control of arms regulations such as the UN Firearms Protocol, Stability Pact Regional Implementation Plan, the UN Programme of Action (PoA) and the OSCE Documents on Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition. But, says Eastern Europe scholar. Moldova reported 29 cases of the disease on 17 March 2020. [18] However, the strip of Moldovan territory on the east bank of the Dniester has been under the de facto control of the breakaway government of Transnistria since 1990. The 1989 Language Law of the Moldavian SSR, which is still in effect in Moldova, according to the Constitution, asserts a "linguistic Moldo-Romanian identity". "[131] In 2009, when Moldova experienced its most serious civil unrest in a decade, several civilians, including Valeriu Boboc, were killed and many more injured. On 26 April 2022, authorities from the Transnistria region said two transmitting antennas broadcasting Russian radio programs at Grigoriopol transmitter broadcasting facility near the town of Maiac in the Grigoriopol District near the Ukrainian border had been blown up and the previous evening, the premises of the Transnistrian state security service had been attacked. [217], Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, the country has seen a decrease in spending on health care and, as a result, the tuberculosis incidence rate in the country has grown. The heaviest rainfall occurs in early summer and again in October; heavy showers and thunderstorms are common. His brother Roman I conquered the Hungarian-ruled Cetatea Alb in 1392, giving Moldavia an outlet to the Black Sea, before being toppled from the throne for supporting Fyodor Koriatovych in his conflict with Vytautas the Great of Lithuania. [12] Moldova is a member state of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, and the Association Trio. It is home to three terrestrial ecoregions: Central European mixed forests, East European forest steppe, and Pontic steppe. Gagauz, 4.4% of the population, are Christian Turkic people. Since 2004, playing numbers at all levels have more than doubled to 3,200. The decision was disputed by Soviet Russia, which in 1924 established, within the Ukrainian SSR, a so-called Moldavian autonomous republic on partially Moldovan-inhabited territories to the east of Bessarabia. With few natural energy resources, Moldova imports almost all of its energy supplies from Russia and Ukraine. Romania is a country of roughly 19 million people. [144] Excessive use of pesticides resulted in heavily polluted topsoil, and industries lacked emission controls. The president appoints a prime minister who functions as the head of government, and who in turn assembles a cabinet, both subject to parliamentary approval. [220], Emigration is a mass phenomenon in Moldova and has a major impact on the country's demographics and economy. . Winning 49.9% of the vote, the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova (reinstituted in 1993 after being outlawed in 1991), gained 71 of the 101 MPs, and on 4 April 2001, elected Vladimir Voronin as the country's third president (re-elected in 2005). Slovakia - 5,414,000. Although historical, the polarization based on ethnolinguistic criteria of the majority ethnic group reappeared with the national revival movement of the late 1980s, and, so far, there is no consensus regarding the mainstream identity in the Republic of Moldova (Moldovan or Romanian).[177][178]. The highest temperature ever recorded in Moldova was 41.5C (106.7F) on 21 July 2007 in Camenca. Historically Russian was taught in schools as the first foreign language, because of the relationship with the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. Comrat is the administrative centre of Gagauzia. The Sfatul rii proclaimed the Moldavian Democratic Republic (December 15[O.S. According to a legend recounted by Moldavian chroniclers Dimitrie Cantemir and Grigore Ureche, Prince Drago named the river after hunting aurochs: following the chase, the prince's exhausted hound Molda (Seva) was drowned in the river. Free shipping for many products! It ended with a ceasefire and the establishment of a security zone policed by a three-way peacekeeping force of Russian, Transnistrian, and Moldovan personnel. On 28 August 2009, this coalition chose a new parliament speaker (Mihai Ghimpu) in a vote that was boycotted by Communist legislators. In the 1994 parliamentary elections, the Democratic Agrarian Party gained a majority of the seats, setting a turning point in Moldovan politics. [64][65] Along with several other Soviet republics, from 1988 onwards, Moldova started to move towards independence. The Moldovans, Romania, Russia and the Politics of Culture , 2000. More than 10,000 supporters turn out for home internationals. The Moldavian SSR . After a week of dual government meetings, some protest, and the international community mostly supporting the new government coalition, Pavel Filip stepped down as prime minister but still called for new elections. [74] On 30 December 2010, Marian Lupu was elected as the Speaker of the Parliament and the acting President of the Republic of Moldova. The economy subsequently declined from 1991 to 1999. [23] After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the country began to use the Romanian name, Moldova. While most of the country is hilly, elevations never exceed 430m (1,411ft) the highest point being the Blneti Hill. Among these were many Bessarabians, such as Alexandru Donici, Alexandru Hjdeu, Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu, Constantin Stamati, Constantin Stamati-Ciurea, Costache Negruzzi, Alecu Russo, Constantin Stere. Popular alcoholic beverages are divin (Moldovan brandy), beer, and wineof which the country is known for making high-quality offerings.[225][226]. The new Russian province was called Oblast of Moldavia and Bessarabia, and initially enjoyed a large degree of autonomy. At the 2014 census (which did not include data from the Transnistrian region), 54.7% of the population named Moldovan whereas 24.0% named Romanian as their first language in daily use. The culture of Moldova is influenced primarily by the Romanian origins of its majority population, while also being heavily indebted to the Slavic and minority Gagauz populations. In a country with a population of 3.5 million, of which 1 million are abroad, there are more than 700,000 pensioners. Over the 19th century, the Russian authorities encouraged the colonization of Bessarabia or parts of it by Russians, Ukrainians, Germans, Bulgarians, Poles, and Gagauzes, primarily in the northern and southern areas vacated by Turks and Nogais, the latter having been expelled in the 1770s and 1780s, during the Russo-Turkish Wars;[d][38][37][39][40] the inclusion of the province in the Pale of Settlement also allowed the immigration of more Bessarabian Jews. Moldova lies between latitudes 45 and 49 N, and mostly between meridians 26 and 30 E (a small area lies east of 30). The country finally achieved its political independence from the Soviet Union in August 1991. Moldova is a small country nestled between Romania and Ukraine. It was a brief war between Moldovan and separatist Transnistrian forces, with Russia intervening militarily on Transnistria's side. [70][71][72], In August 2009, four Moldovan parties (Liberal Democratic Party, Liberal Party, Democratic Party, and Our Moldova Alliance) agreed to create the Alliance For European Integration that pushed the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova into opposition. Economic activity grew cumulatively by about 24 percent; consumer price inflation was brought under control; and real wages increased cumulatively by about 13 percent. [163] Moldova has also achieved a Free Visa Regime[164] with the EU which represents the biggest achievement of Moldovan diplomacy since independence. Archaeological research has identified the location of 13th-century fortified settlements in this region. Athletes from Moldova have won European medals in athletics, biathlon, football, and gymnastics; world medals in archery, judo, swimming, and taekwondo; as well as Olympic medals in boxing, canoeing, shooting, weightlifting, and wrestling. The theme of the musical group is "Anonymous" as they perform with painted faces, hoodies and sunglasses. [18] Miletii Mici is the home of the largest wine cellar in the world. The government entered into agreements with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to promote growth. [117] According to a lending agreement signed in February 2010, Poland provided US$15 million as a component of its support for Moldova in its European integration efforts. But there live also about 30% of Russians, Ucraineans and some smaller minorities which are non-slavic. [92] The parliament, dominated by pro-Russian Socialists, did not accept any Prime Minister candidate proposed by the new president. The Romanian majority living there is of course latin. Moldova is a country in Eastern Europe, north of the Balkans, surrounded by Romania to the southwest, across the Prut river, and Ukraine to the northeast. 21 November]1917. Olympic medalists include Sergei Mureiko, Oleg Moldovan, Vitalie Gruac, Veaceslav Gojan, and Serghei Tarnovschi. [61] In the 1970s and 1980s, the Moldavian SSR received substantial allocations from the budget of the USSR to develop industrial and scientific facilities and housing. Its estimated number of native . Political dissidents from Ilacu Group were released from arbitrary detention in the break-away Transdinester region only after an order of the European Court of Human Rights. Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. [176], As of the 2014 census, Moldovans were the largest ethnic group of Moldova (75.1% of the population). . This makes for a total of 1,682 localities in Moldova, two of which are uninhabited.[137]. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Sample Edition Boskovsky "Hungarian Dances Slavic Dances" LP Record at the best online prices at eBay! The influence of Romania's Slavic neighbors on the language continued. The matter of whether or not Moldovan is a separate language continues to be contested politically within and beyond the Republic of Moldova. Romania's border is shared with other five European countries: Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, and Ukraine. In the 21st century, the primary foreign language taught in the schools is English. 28 February 2023. Ties between Poland and Moldavia expanded after the founding of the Moldavian state by Bogdan of Cuhea, a Vlach voivode from Maramure who had fallen out with the Hungarian king. [e] The Moldavian proportion of the population decreased from an estimated 86% in 1816,[42] to around 52% in 1905. [173], In September 2009, Moldova was the first country in the world to launch high-definition voice services (HD voice) for mobile phones, and the first country in Europe to launch 14.4 Mbit/s mobile broadband on a national scale, with over 40% population coverage. The official name of the country is the Republic of Moldova. The main means of transportation in Moldova are railways 1,138km (707mi) and a highway system (12,730km or 7,910mi overall, including 10,937km or 6,796mi of paved surfaces). The Republic of Moldova was ranked 64th in the Global Innovation Index in 2021, down from 58th in 2019. [89] The country reported its first death from the disease on 18 March 2020, when the total number of cases reached 30. 40,592 of them perished.[57]. It stretches for 200km (120mi) (though only 55km (34mi) is in use) and holds almost 2 million bottles of wine[170], Moldova's rich soil and temperate continental climate (with warm summers and mild winters) have made the country one of the most productive agricultural regions since ancient times, and a major supplier of agricultural products in southeastern Europe. The economy of Moldova began to change in 2001; and until 2008, the country saw a steady annual growth between 5% and 10%. [19] It has one of the lowest Human Development Indexes in Europe, ranking 76th in the world (2022). [91] In December 2020, Prime Minister Ion Chicu, who had led a pro-Russian government since November 2019, resigned a day before Sandu was sworn in. Deforestation, demographic pressure, as well as excessive hunting eradicated the native saiga herds which is currently threatened with extinction. The history of what is today Moldova has been intertwined with that of Poland for centuries. As of 2020, the U.S. Department of State estimated that 90% of the Orthodox adherents belong to the Moldovan Orthodox Church. The band SunStroke Project with Olia Tira represented the country in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest with their hit song "Run Away". [26] In 1164, the future Byzantine emperor Andronikos I Komnenos, while attempting to reach the Principality of Halych, was taken prisoner by Vlachs, possibly in the area which now constitutes Moldova. [46] A part of the interim Parliament agreed to drop these conditions after Bukovina and Transylvania also joined the Kingdom of Romania, although historians note that they lacked the quorum to do so.[47][48][49][50][51]. Although Moldova has been independent from the Soviet Union since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Nistru River in the breakaway region of Transnistria. The National Library of Moldova was founded in 1832. [82], In 2019, from 7 to 15 June, the Moldovan government went through a period of dual power in what is known as the 2019 Moldovan constitutional crisis. Over the longer term, Moldova's economy remains vulnerable to political uncertainty, weak administrative capacity, vested bureaucratic interests, corruption, higher fuel prices, Russian pressure, and the separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region. It does not have nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological weapons. 20 February Sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova emerged as an independent republic following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}47N 29E / 47N 29E / 47; 29. **If counted as European countries rather than Asian countries, the transcontinental countries Azerbaijan ($4,214) and Armenia ($4,268) would also appear on the above list. Ukraine. As of 2016, Moldova's population was slightly above 4 million people. 6 Moldova is a parliamentary representative democratic republic and its official language is Moldovan, a variety of Romanian. Prince Petru also expanded his rule southwards to the Danube Delta. "[133] Moldova "has made noteworthy progress on religious freedom since the era of the Soviet Union, but it can still take further steps to foster diversity," said the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief Heiner Bielefeldt, in Chiinu, in September 2011. In the April 2009 parliamentary elections, the Communist Party won 49.48% of the votes, followed by the Liberal Party with 13.14% of the votes, the Liberal Democratic Party with 12.43%, and the Alliance "Moldova Noastr" with 9.77%. It is estimated that, as of 2022, 43.2% of the total population live in urban areas, and that the urbanization rate is 0.09%. Produsul intern brut n anul 2012, date actualizate, Produsul intern brut n Republica Moldova n anul 2013, date actualizate, Economia Moldovei a nregistrat o crestere de 4,6%, n 2014, i constituie 111 miliarde de lei, "Economia Republicii Moldova, n SCDERE n 2015; Ultimele cifre de la Statistic", "BNS: Economia Republicii Moldova a crescut cu 4,5% n anul 2017", "Salariului mediu lunar pe economie in anul 2018 este de 6150 lei / Editorial / Monitorul fiscal FISC.md", "INS: Salariul mediu pe economie, n cretere n iunie", " 2018 ! [87], In March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government called a "national red code alert" as the number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to six on 13 March 2020. The Polish chronicler Jan Dugosz mentioned Moldavians as having joined a military expedition in 1342, under King Ladislaus I, against the Margraviate of Brandenburg. Crossing the Carpathian mountains in 1359, the voivode took control of Moldavia and succeeded in creating Moldavia as an independent political entity. [221], Moldova's cultural tradition has been influenced primarily by the Romanian origins of its majority population, the roots of which go back to the second century AD, the period of Roman colonization in Dacia. Moldova's agricultural products include vegetables, fruits, grapes, wine, and grains.[172]. Today, the Bulgarians form one of the most solid elements in Southern Bessarabia, numbering (with the Gagauzes, i.e., Turkish-speaking Christians also from the Dobrudja) nearly 150,000. Main risks to the near-term outlook relate to serious vulnerabilities and governance issues in the banking sector, policy slippages in the run up to the elections, intensification of geopolitical tensions in the region, and a further slowdown in activity in main trading partners. Slavic people mostly live in Eastern and south/central Europe, but not every country there is majority Slavic. . In the early 13th century, the Brodniks, a possible SlavicVlach vassal tribe of Halych, were also present in much of the region's territory. During the year reports of government exercising undue influence over the media substantially decreased." . The 1994 constitution also establishes an independent Constitutional Court, composed of six judges (two appointed by the President, two by Parliament, and two by the Supreme Council of Magistrature), serving six-year terms, during which they are irremovable and not subordinate to any power. They are natives of Central, Eastern, Southeast, and Northeast Europe as well as Central and North Asia. Moldova's hills are part of the Moldavian Plateau, which geologically originate from the Carpathian Mountains. Conrad Landin takes a look at the country and its tormented past. Plans for a union with Romania were abandoned,[64] and the new Constitution gave autonomy to the breakaway Transnistria and Gagauzia.